City Welcomes New Businesses

Woonsocket is a place for innovation, art and new ideas that welcomes spirited entrepreneurs. 

This, at least, is the impression that one might take away from last night's reception at the , a celebratory event to welcome new members to the city's business community.  

Business leaders and government officials old and new attended the reception, the first ever of its kind, put together by Matt Wojcik, Woonsocket's Director of Economic Development.

"There's a big difference, doing business in different communities," said Paul Areson, owner of Supreme Dairy, a cheese wholesaler in the process of moving to Woonsocket after more than 46 years of operating in Warwick. The move signifies an expansion for this established family business, which provides fine cheeses to most of the major supermarkets in the region.

Moving into the former J.O. Demers building, for Areson, means not only increased traffic for his cash and carry business, but also greater highway access, with a location eqidistant from Boston, Providence and Worcester.  "Everyone here was very anxious to help out and show us how things were done," Areson said.

Another newcomer to the community, Steven Triedman, saw great opportunity in an abandoned mill complex at 85 Fairmont St. Triedman said he saw a old picture of the building and thought "wouldn't that be great to own. It's a tremendous property." 

His company, American Wood Pellet, has big plans to produce green energy from the old mill with 10 employees working in the city by spring of this year. "We have been welcomed by the Woonsocket community — everyone's been great.  I think everyone is on the same page with wanting to see economic development," he said.

No one would deny that Wojcik still has plenty of work to do. With empty storefronts lining portions of the downtown district and historic buildings throughout the city requiring a serious investment from would-be entrepreneurs to meet building codes, Wojcik faces a real struggle in attracting new business to Woonsocket. 

But if the newcomers represent anything about the city's future, it looks bright and full of innovation.

For Nancy Beauregard, owner of Glycol Blending Services, doing business in Woonsocket is all about giving back to the community she loves. Beaurgard was the Mardi Gras Queen in 2000 and was raised right on Wood Avenue. Her company, GBS, reprocesses waste antifreeze from cars and trucks, and sells the recycled product to local clients including and the city itself.

"Our roots are here. I'm a Woonsocket girl. I was born right there," Beauregard said, pointing through the glass window of The Burrito Company to Landmark Medical Center. "It's all about growing the city and supporting local business. It is the key to keeping the economy going here, buying local."

Other attendees included state Sens. Marc Cote and Roger Picard, Rep. Robert Phillips, Councilman Daniel Gendron, Mayor Leo Fontaine and John Gregory, president of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce. Members of the business community, including Frank Richard, president of Esten & Richard Agency and Judith Potter of Potter Photography, networked with young blood like Kevin Auger of Greenshell Studios. Auger has recently returned to the area from Florida and said he is excited to offer his graphic design and animation services to Woonsocket businesses. 

"Between Supreme Dairy and American Wood Pellet, we have about $2 million in new investment coming into the city," Wojcik said. "At the end of the day, the city has to be relevant to the community as well. People need a reason to come here."

Another soon-to-be local businessman, Link Murray, bought the building that once held Heritage Coffee Shop and is "soliciting good ideas" for what kind of business to open in there. "A lot of people tell me I should just reopen Heritage," Murray said. 

That plan is at the top of the list. Murray joked that he'd be open to anything "preferably legal, preferably moral and uplifting. I want people to say: I love living in this town because it has a place like that."