Cannabis cultivation mill site seen boosting city
Facility operates in renovated and repurposed building
U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and other officials on Wednesday took a tour of Revolutionary Clinics’ cultivation facility and discussed how the cannabis industry will positively impact the economic development of the city.
Revolutionary Clinics, at 1 Oak Hill Road, was once a shoe factory that supplied brands like Brooks Brothers, Cole Haan, L.L. Bean and Harley-Davidson among other popular footwear.
After being closed for many years, Revolutionary Clinics repurposed the facility for medical cannabis cultivation in the city in 2017.
It expanded to recreational cultivation last year and employs 120 people.
“The thing we want to see is these mill buildings be revitalized, contribute to the economic development and the tax base of the city — and that’s basically what you’ve achieved here,” Trahan said.
Co-founder of Revolutionary Clinics Ryan Ansin, who attended elementary school in Fitchburg, said he was happy to return to the city and to play a role in its economic development.
Ansin said his family purchased the mill building in 1952, adding that he was able to succeed in part because of the city’s approach to the cannabis industry.
Mayor Stephen DiNatale said Ansin was continuing the legacy of his family, who created countless jobs in the city years ago.
DiNatale said Fitchburg has welcomed the cannabis industry into the city because of the potential for growth in a number of areas.
“We had a number of buildings that were unoccupied, off the tax rolls, and this is an opportunity not just to bring an industry in that’s going to create revenue … but also, even more importantly, hire people,” said DiNatale. “Put people to work in Fitchburg but also regionally.”
According to DiNatale, there are only a handful of empty mill buildings left in the city, which is a sign of recent success.
“There is a certain satisfaction that you
when you see the restoration of a mill building that was so vital in terms of the economy 100 years ago, 50 years ago,” added Trahan.
The cultivation site encompasses about 250,000 square feet, one official said, with about 140,000 square feet devoted to growing and product manufacturing so far.
In addition to providing jobs, Revolutionary Clinics has had a significant economic impact on the Fitchburg community, officials said.
In the past three years, it has paid more than $700,000 in tax revenue and continues to annually give $25,000 in charitable contributions to communiget ty partners.
Cannabis Control Commissioner Jennifer Flanagan said she was impressed with the facility and that Revolutionary Clinics appears to be abiding by all state guidelines.
“It’s good to see the reuse of buildings that were long ago vibrant and full of workers,” said Flanagan, a former state senator from Leominster for many years before joining the CCC.