TOWN OF JOHNSON LIGHT INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL PARK Prepared for Final Report: Light Industrial/ Commercial Park Development in Johnson, Vermont Town of Johnson 293 Lower Main West PO Box 383 June, 2012 Johnson, Vermont 05656 Prepared by Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. 228 North Main St. St. Albans, Vermont 05478 [This page intentionally left blank.] Final Report on Light Industrial/Commercial Park Development in Johnson, Vermont Table of Contents A Story of Rural Industrial Park Development ........................................................................ 4 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 14 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 14 Agribusiness, Food Processing and Technology .................................................................... 15 National, Regional and Local Trends ............................................................................................................................. 15 Workforce Needs ................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Space and Infrastructure Needs ...................................................................................................................................... 20 What Johnson Has to Offer the Food Processing Sector ........................................................................................ 21 Energy and Environmental Services ..................................................................................... 22 Trends ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Workforce Needs ................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Space and Infrastructure Needs ...................................................................................................................................... 29 What Johnson Has to Offer the Energy and Environmental Services Sector ................................................ 30 Biomedical/Biotechnical ...................................................................................................... 31 Trends ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 31 Workforce Needs ................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Space and Infrastructure Needs ...................................................................................................................................... 34 What Johnson Has to Offer the Biomedical/Biotechnical Sector ....................................................................... 35 Sectors: Summary of Findings .............................................................................................. 35 Art Museum ........................................................................................................................ 37 Findings and Recommendations .......................................................................................... 37 Competition ............................................................................................................................................................................. 37 Demand from Canada .......................................................................................................................................................... 38 Making a Decision ............................................................................................................... 40 Option 1: Negotiate a better deal on the Jewett property option and purchase price and take the one year option. .............................................................................................................................................................................. 40 Pros – for taking the one year option: .............................................................................................................................. 40 Pros – for purchasing the property:................................................................................................................................... 41 1 | P a g e Cons: ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 41 Option 2: Do not take the option on the Jewett property ..................................................................................... 41 Pros: .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 41 Cons: ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 41 Target Sectors ......................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Next Steps ........................................................................................................................... 42 Partners ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Commercial Realtors/Developers ....................................................................................................................................... 43 Local Development Corporations ....................................................................................................................................... 43 Utilities ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 43 Park Development Options................................................................................................................................................ 44 Marketing .................................................................................................................................................................................. 44 Funding ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Looking Back and Looking Forward ...................................................................................... 48 Appendices ......................................................................................................................... 50 Appendix A: List of Contacts ............................................................................................................................................. 50 Sector Contacts ............................................................................................................................................................................ 50 Regional Contacts ...................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Statewide Contacts .................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Other ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 51 Realtors ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 51 Companies That Expressed Interest in Further Contact .......................................................................................... 51 Appendix B: Funding Resources...................................................................................................................................... 52 Federal Grants ............................................................................................................................................................................. 52 Regional Grants ........................................................................................................................................................................... 56 Vermont Resources .................................................................................................................................................................... 57 Appendix C: Resources .......................................................................................................................................................