Boston Herald
Friday, May 9, 2003

Zone reinforces Hanscom
Development area aids base's defense

By Jon Chesto

Gov. Mitt Romney yesterday touted a newly created economic development zone near Hanscom Field in Bedford aimed at attracting more high-tech companies to the region.

Industry observers said the zone will also play a key role in efforts to persuade the U.S. government to keep the nearby Hanscom Air Force Base - and thousands of research jobs connected to it - alive.

``There's a lot at stake,'' said Christopher Anderson, president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council. ``This designation in Bedford will be an important part of our competitive edge.''

Hanscom is home to one of the the military's top research hubs, and offers a major source of work for high-tech firms in the region. Business leaders are concerned that Hanscom could be swept away in the next round of U.S. military base closings unless a convincing case is made to keep and expand Air Force electronics research operations here.

The zone, which lets firms that build there obtain a 5 percent state tax credit, grew out of the Romney administration's efforts to help Fujifilm Microdisks U.S.A. Inc. expand a manufacturing plant in the target area.

Robert Pozen, Romney's commerce and labor chief, said the state can now promote the Bedford zone - about 640 acres of largely industrial land near the Burlington Mall northeast of Route 3 and just west of Route 128 - as a likely place for expansion.

State officials said the approval of the economic target area helped persuade Fujifilm to build a $6 million addition and spend another $29 million on equipment. They said the decision could add nearly 150 jobs in the plant.

Fujifilm could get a 5 percent tax credit based on the money it spends on new construction and equipment - up from the typical level of 3 percent - for up to 10 years.

``Romney was able to kill two birds with one stone,'' Pozen said.

As part of the deal, Bedford agreed to work with the adjacent towns of Burlington and Billerica to make attracting Hanscom-related lab work a top priority for the new ``regional technology park,'' Pozen said.

Richard Reed, Bedford's town administrator, welcomed the added state tax incentives, pointing out that at least 200 acres in the affected area are either vacant or primed for redevelopment. The state's widening of Route 3, due to be finished in a year, should also help attract firms, Reed said.

Paul Guzzi, president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, lauded Romney's move, calling it the first of several economic efforts he expects to come from the administration.

``The area (near) Hanscom is heavy in terms of federal research funding and is or should be a natural incubator for other companies,'' Guzzi said. Romney detailed the development zone at a chamber meeting in Boston.

Scott van Voorhis contributed to this story.
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