Manufacturing Roots Made Modern Understanding the Potential to Create Regional Employment Hub for the Life Science Industry in Brockton, Massachusetts Project Summary Community: Brockton, Massachusetts Technical Assistance: Market Analysis Former Use: Corcoran Supply Co. Warehouse Future Use: Mixed-Use Life Science Training Facility One of the most populous and diverse cities in Massachusetts, Brockton is situated among a booming life science industry driven by regional research and manufacturing facilities in nearby communities. After experiencing recent economic decline due to the loss of key employers in the downtown area, the city identified the former Corcoran Supply Co. building and nearby parcels as opportunities to revitalize the economic landscape of the downtown by leveraging ties to the life science industry. The Community's Challenge While the community today has a high level of diversity, it also has high poverty rates and needs redevelopment to spur economic growth. The population immediately surrounding the Corcoran Supply Co. building is experiencing higher unemployment, lower median income, and lower educational attainment when compared to the rest of the region and state. The redevelopment of the Corcoran Supply Co. building is an opportunity to support job creation and retention and, more broadly, redevelopment of the downtown area. EPA's Land Revitalization Technical Assistance In 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Land Revitalization Program provided contractor technical assistance to perform a market analysis to identify redevelopment opportunities for the vacant Corcoran Supply Co. building. To do this, the team analyzed data related to the regional life science industry, as well as local demographic and real estate market conditions. The team also conducted interviews with community stakeholders to understand the potential to house a life science-related facility in downtown Brockton and identify any constraints associated with the specific layout of the building itself. The results of the market analysis indicate there is an unmet demand throughout the region for skills-specific training opportunities that directly correlate with available life science positions. While the Corcoran Supply Co. building is limited in its ability to house a full manufacturing facility due to low floor to floor ceiling height and a limited amount of total available space, redevelopment of the building can support a mixed-use life science training facility that includes classroom space, lab training space, and various small-scale community and entrepreneurial uses. Potential Flexible Space Breakdown of the Corcoran Supply Co. Building Redevelopment Use Space Required Percent of Total Space Lab/Training 7,500 SF 17% Classroom/Flex 7,500 SF 17% Multi-Purpose 4,600 SF 10% Shared Space 2,500 SF 6% Retail/Food 3,400 SF 8% Admin 800 SF 2% Support Spaces 18,700 SF 41% For more information, contact Paul Pietrinferni, EPA Region 1, at pietrinferni.paul@epa.gov or Jessica Dominguez, EPA Region 1, at dominquez.iessica@epa.gov. A |~|^ jy United States Environmental Protection ^1 Agency Office of Brownfields arid Land Revitalization 560-F-23-308 ------- |