Industrial park could draw Amazon
Waterbury-naugatuck warehouse plan would create up to 1,000 jobs
A 150-acre industrial park straddling Waterbury and Naugatuck has been selected as the site of a warehouse and distribution center that could possibly draw Amazon, adding to Connecticut’s growing network of logistics centers key to online shopping and next-day delivery.
Bluewater Property Group, a Pennsylvania investment and development company focusing on the growing logistics sector, was picked as part of a collaboration between the state and local governments to develop a plan remaking the Waterbury/ Naugatuck Industrial Park into a distribution facility. As many as 1,000 jobs could be created, officials said.
“We are all extremely excited about our joint project with Bluewater Property Group, and its prospective tenant, Amazon, and the many benefits to both municipalities,” Naugatuck Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess said. “Working together we are stronger, and the Waterbury/naugatuck partnership will continue to yield benefits to the entire valley.”
Waterbury Mayor Neil O’leary said much work remains to be done, “but this could be an amazing win for our region and the entire state.”
If approved, the project “has tremendous upside for Waterbury, Naugatuck, and residents throughout the region,” Gov. Ned Lamont said.
“There is a lot of work to do to make this potential project a reality, but we are excited at the opportunity to proceed to the next step,” said Alexandra Escamilla, head of development for Blue Water Property Group.
The proposed project will be subject to state and local approvals with several opportunities for public comment.
The Naugatuck Valley Regional Development Corp. is leading the project on behalf of Waterbury and Naugatuck to take a regional approach to economic development in the Naugatuck Valley region.
Connecticut towns and cities benefit from their proximity to interstates 84, 91 and 95 and, in many areas, flat land that can be used to build massive warehouses and distribution centers.
Warehouse jobs pay more than traditional retail, but far less than finance and aerospace jobs that are key components of Connecticut’s economy.
Amazon delivery stations operate in Bristol, Cromwell, Danbury, Newington, Orange, Wallingford, Stratford and Trumbull. Fulfillment centers, or warehouses, operate in North Haven and Windsor and Wallingford is home to a sortation center.