Economic Development News and Events

Tolland Technology Corridor Update

(January 2008) – Tolland is at a critical crossroads in its development. Lacking numerous large flat parcels of commerical or industrial properties, Tolland must instead look to develop what available limited resources it has in a manner that generates the greatest overall economic impact consistent with the Town’s plan of conservation and municipal development.

With the University of Connecticut as its neighbor, Tolland benefits in several ways from close proximity to a university and major research institution. The Stakeholders Report outlined a vision for growth that included a high technology corridor stretching from Exit 68 at I-84 south towards Uconn along Rte. 195.

Within this corridor, businesses that are spin-offs of University-based or University-developed technology would locate to maintain reasonable access to researchers or student intern labor. Existing businesses that meet these criteria include Nerac, Inc., Control Station, Inc., and Xsellense, Inc. Other businesses being developed in the Corridor are Tune Rooms, Inc., Digiwize, Inc., MisGis and Flytrap Technologies, Inc. All tend toward the uses of intellectual capital, knowledge workers, software development and web 2.0 based sales activities rather than traditional manufacturing and so are well-suited for smaller sites and buildings. They exhibit business characteristics which are environmentally-friendly, low service impact and typically generate higher-than-average wages and local employment growth.

In addition, the corridor serves as the natural gateway to the University of Connecticut and companies with economic connections to the University would also seek to locate in this area. Included in this profile are Millennium Computer and Genesis Capital Corp., both of which seek to locate in the corridor to gain Rte. 195 visibility with the University community.

Recently, the WPCA approved the installation of a sewer line extension from the Goose Lane/Rhodes Road intersection south along Rte. 195 almost to Anthony Road. The sewer project, undertaken with the assistance of a private development team, makes it possible to realize the Technology Corridor vision in a more desireable timeframe. The addition of sanitary sewers increases the building densities, improves the land use and encourages the creation of multi-building office campuses.

As a result of this very significant infrastructure improvement, the Tolland PZC was able to recently approve a site application for Genesis Capital Group, to create a nearly 15,000 sqaure foot office building to be located on Rte. 195 adjacent to the Nerac driveway. The projected uses are primarily general office with additional planned uses which include business incubation space to compliment Nerac and the Technology Incubation Program at Uconn.

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