BRUNSWICK
Business growth at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station continues, including at TechPlace. The 94,000-square-foot building whose common areas serve multiple companies will soon benefit from a $495,000 grant from the Maine Technology Institute.
The grant will fund a shared composite lay-up room and paint shed.
TechPlace opened two years ago as a hybrid of shared office spaces, joint bio-labs and so-called maker-spaces with shared manufacturing equipment. Specialized machine tools at TechPlace can be shared between companies, reducing cost. Computer aided design programs and industrial printers also are available.
“There’s really nothing like this in Maine where people can share these assets,” Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Steve Levesque told board members on Wednesday.
Some TechPlace tenants, including its first — STARC Systems — have outgrown the space and are relocating to other buildings on Brunswick Landing, Levesque said. STARC Systems manufactures temporary construction containment walls primarily used in health care settings.
There are approximately 1,224 people working on the former base since its 2011 closure, as well as at its Topsham annex. Forecasts several years ago predicted there would be about 450 people working.
“This is a very positive trend,” Levesque said. “We’re quite ahead at this time.”
About $22.7 million in airport improvement program grants between 2017 and 2021 will boost the presence of Brunswick Executive Airport, MRRA board members learned.
Land is available for private housing development, according to Levesque.
Taking trips throughout the region and country helps market Brunswick Landing to prospective tenants.
“It’s a lot of time away but it’s critically important,” Levesque said. “We get out to meet the decision makers.”
lconnell@timesrecord.com
Worker count
• THERE ARE approximately 1,224 people working on the former base since its 2011 closure, as well as at its Topsham annex. Forecasts several years ago predicted there would be about 450 people working.
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