New Venture

Press Release: For Immediate Release






August 12, 2010



Guyer to create Community Development Corporation. Crane & Co Stationery Factory to be redeveloped for housing, commercial kitchens and agricultural food processing center. Plan also envisions retail and other economic development at site.



Dalton- Denis Guyer is creating the non- profit Berkshire Community Development Corporation, which will acquire and redevelop the Crane Stationery Factory at 63 Flansburgh Avenue into condominium style housing, commercial kitchens, agricultural value -added food processing center and other retail offerings at the 100,000 square foot site.



“When I made the decision to leave the Massachusetts Legislature earlier this year, I knew that working in some community development or agricultural role was where I really wanted to land. During my time in the legislature I have loved working closely with the folks in the agricultural industry and I have relished supporting projects that would create jobs and housing opportunities for working families. I heard that Crane & Co was deciding a future course for the Stationery building, so I went in and pitched my idea to them.” said Guyer.



Crane and Company plans to consolidate its Stationery Division operations into a single Dalton-based facility, moving operations from the Curran Highway, North Adams and Stationery Factory into the Ashuelot Park-Dalton site by late 2011.



Besides the redevelopment of the building into both affordable and luxury condominium units, Guyer also plans to create a commercial kitchen facility that will act as an incubator for new food businesses. Entrepreneurs looking to make and market their products will rent kitchen time and storage space as well as receive business creation support from the CDC. To support local agriculture, Guyer plans what is called a “value- added” facility, which would process locally grown dairy, fruits and vegetables into products such as jams, wine, salsa, cheese, granola and ice cream.



“We recognized that Denis’s vision for the future use of the Stationery factory was consistent with our desire to support a development project that is positive for the town of Dalton and our community”, said Charlie Kittredge, CEO of Crane & Co. “We would like to recognize the work and the input provided by the Town Manager and Select Board combined with some preliminary work performed by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. While the decision behind consolidating our Stationery activity was driven by the need to sustain and improve our business, it was none the less a difficult step to take and we are now pleased to have identified a potential use for the future of the building which will provide housing and business opportunities while at the same time supporting our local farms and agricultural economy”.



There are also plans to redevelop a portion of the building for retail use. “I am hoping to attract businesses that are related to the other ventures that will occur in the building, so an eatery based on a locally grown concept and a cooperative food market would both fit very nicely into this plan” said Guyer.



With this venture Guyer is in a way returning to where he started. “I began a twelve-year career at Crane in 1992, cutting envelope liners in this building, in a way it really feels like I am coming home” said Guyer.





Stationery Press Release FINAL VERSION 08-12-10