Milford, Massachusetts Community Profile (Updated Spring, 2005)

General Information

           

The Town of Milford, MA, incorporated in 1780, is located in Worcester County, approximately 32 miles west of Boston, 19 miles east of Worcester and 28 miles north of Providence, RI.  The community has a population of 26,799 (2000 US Census), and is approximately 15.65 square miles in area. 

Interstate 495 runs generally along the easterly boundary of the Town with two interchanges for the Town of Milford.  Interstate 95 and the Massachusetts Turnpike both intersect 495 nearby.

           

There are 10,420 households in Milford; the estimated median age is 36.6.  The median family income is $61,029; the median household income is $50,856.  (2000 US Census).  The fiscal 2005 tax rate for residential property is $11.83/$1000 valuation, and for commercial/industrial/personal property is $21.94/$1000 valuation.

Commerce and Industry

Milford has a distinguished business history in both the boot manufacturing and granite quarrying industries.  In the late nineteenth century, Milford was home to two of the largest boot factories in the country.  Pink granite quarried in Milford was used to build the original Boston Public Library, the Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington, D.C. and many other prominent buildings.

The Town is still the industrial center of the area, but Milford has changed greatly since the turn of the century.  Still bustling with business concerns, Milford is now known for its booming retail and wholesale businesses, manufacturing firms and numerous services.

There are 2 major industrial parks in Milford: Granite Park and the Bear Hill Industrial Area.  Existing businesses in Granite Park include Avecia, Photofabrication Engineering Inc., A.J. Knott Tool and Manufacturing, ViaSystem, MiltonCat and several warehouse/distribution facilities.  Existing businesses in the Bear Hill Industrial Area include EMC, Biomeasure,Waters Corp., and Holmes Products Corp., and numerous offices in the Birchwood Business Park.  Other major employers include Saint-Gobain glass manufacturing and the Benjamin Moore Company. 

There are 6 hotels in Milford: The Raddison, The Marriot Courtyard, The Day’s Inn, the Tage Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and the Fairfield Inns & Suites for a total of 673 rooms and suites. 

The Milford Regional Medical Center, another major employer, is a 125-bed full service community hospital.  In July 1991, Milford Regional was established as a teaching site for the University of Massachusetts Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Program.  In June 1994, Milford Regional opened Hill Health Center; a four-story outpatient facility dedicated to the care, education and wellness of the thousands of patients whose visit does not include an overnight stay.  A major expansion and renovation of Milford Regional were completed in 2004.

Municipal Services

The Town has 47 full time police officers.  A major renovation of the police station, located in the downtown area, was completed in 1996.  There are 38 full time firefighters and 11 on-call firefighters.  A new fire station was built in 1992 on Birch Street.  The Spruce Street station was upgraded and expanded in 2003.

The Milford Public School System features 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and 1 high school as well as a regional vocational-technical high school.  In 1995, the Town invested $16.77 million for renovation and expansion of the Stacy Middle School and the Memorial Elementary School.

The central goal of the Milford Public School System is the vigorous promotion of the intellectual development of each student to the student's maximum potential.  The Milford Public School System is a place for each student to grow, mature and develop into a responsible and contributing member of society.

Public Transportation

Bus service is available from Milford to Framingham and Boston.  Commuter rail service to Back Bay Station and South Station, Boston, is available from neighboring Franklin. 

Conrail provides freight service to Milford.  Hopedale Airport, a general aviation facility, is only minutes from Milford.  The airport has a 3250' paved runway and can accommodate helicopters.

Economic Development Activities

Milford has successfully sought funds from the Massachusetts Small Cities Program for a variety of downtown revitalization activities such as façade and sign improvement programs, reconstruction of streets and sidewalks, installation of period street trees, marketing plans and more.  Through initiatives of the Downtown Partnership of Milford Inc., a private nonprofit organization, many more improvements are planned. 

The Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council has designated much of the Town of Milford as an Economic Target Area.  Within this area, the Town is authorized to negotiate with developers to offer tax incentives for significant development/redevelopment projects.  Approved projects are eligible for the following benefits:

5% investment tax credit above existing level,

10% abandoned building tax credit, provided that no more than 25% of the building has been utilized for at least two years prior to the application,   municipal tax abatement and/or tax increment financing, at municipality's discretion.

The type, duration and amount of municipal tax incentive are determined through negotiation between the municipality and the project proponent.  The Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council must approve any negotiated agreement.

Two types of municipal tax incentives are available through this program.  Municipal Tax Abatements are provided on a sliding scale over a 5-year period.  Tax Increment Financing incentives fix the annual assessments of improvements for up to 20 years.

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