Following several years of planning, designing, and implementing, construction on the Stone Mountain Business Park in Winchester began the last week of July.

The developer, the 501(c)3 nonprofit Winchester Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) worked with the town for six years to bring the project to this stage. The site, a former gravel pit, is ideally located near downtown Winchester and encompasses more than 60 acres zoned for business and manufacturing. Stone Mountain also adjoins a site with over 90 acres of developable vacant land.

A $666,000 Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant was matched by a $500,000 loan to install all the necessary infrastructure (roads, utilities, internet). Moved by a town-wide ballot question that was overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the project the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, provided the necessary financing.

Community Loan Fund Senior Lender Betsy Segal said, “The Community Loan Fund has been inspired by its partnership with WEDC. WEDC’s vision and hard work to bring a manufacturing-focused industrial park to Winchester and create quality jobs is a mission opportunity that we fully share.”

Additional funding came from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the town of Winchester, Monadnock Economic Development Corporation, and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant.

Reasonably priced vacant land with municipal water and sewer and without environmental issues rare in the region, especially lots of this size. New England Solar Garden is installing a solar farm adjacent to the park on the town’s land fill. This source of power will substantially reduce the park’s tenants’ electricity cost.

Regional economic growth will be a result of this Park, as recognized by Southwest Regional Planning Commission; the Park was termed a “high priority” in its comprehensive planning documents termed “CEDs”.

Most of the capital work will be completed by the fall, with paving in early spring.

Learn more about the project.