Tax Incentives for Businesses?

Natick's Select Board can support and attract businesses without offering tax breaks by investing in infrastructure and public amenities. Well-maintained roads, reliable snow plowing, and well-supported public safety teams create an attractive environment for businesses and customers alike. Enhancing walkability, parking availability, and bike lanes can also encourage more foot traffic, benefiting local shops and restaurants.

Additionally, maintaining vibrant public spaces, such as parks and gathering areas, can foster a sense of community that draws both businesses and consumers to Natick’s commercial areas such as Natick Center. Working with the Transportation Advisory Committee this past year, we revised the charge of the Committee to focus on initiatives that will serve the business community as well as residents.

Over the past three years, I have made it a priority to meet with the management at Brookfield Properties (Natick Mall) twice a year, and representatives from the top ten taxpayers in town, as well as meet with small business owners who primarily rent, to learn about what they need to succeed, expand, and stay in Natick. These meetings have led to public policy decisions which extended the closing hours of the entertainment complexes at Natick Mall, allowing them to compete with Framinghan's Tavern in the Square, Cafe Bello and Funky Murphy’s. Under my direction, the Board incorporated some flexibility with the requirements for alcohol intervention program certifications while increasing the penalties for violations of the town's alcohol policy.

Lastly, while the demand for lab space has receded a bit in recent years, I have encouraged the Community and Economic Development Department (CED) to make the necessary zoning, permitting, and environmental bylaw changes to move Natick from a "bronze" Bio-Ready Community Designation to "platinum" to attract more biotech businesses to our industrial zones. Working with the health department, CED is actively pursuing a plan to get the town certified as "ready and open for biotech business."

By cultivating a supportive and collaborative business environment, Natick can attract innovative enterprises and strengthen its local economy without relying on tax incentives.