States sends money to boost industrial park.

Byline: Karen Nugent

Leominster and Lancaster will receive $1.6 million in state grants as part of Gov. Deval L. Patrick's program to create and expand local businesses to provide more jobs.

In addition, two worker training grants were awarded to two Leominster businesses to train 17 employees.

Leominster will get $800,000 from a Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion grant to build a road, including utilities, for the Tanzio Road Industrial Park. The 88,400 square feet of roads will allow access to Aspinwall Avenue for commercial development.

In a teleconference yesterday morning, Mr. Patrick said the city is in negotiations with a for-profit entity that would need the infrastructure improvements to proceed. He declined to name the company. The project is expected to generate 200 permanent jobs, he said.

Lancaster will receive $750,000 from the grant for a sewer extension in North Lancaster to replace a septic system at the Orchard Hills Athletic Club, on the Leominster line. The sewer line would allow for continued growth in Leominster as well.

Orchard Hills plans to expand to a 72,000-square-foot facility on 18 acres, and add a physical therapy and health center. The expansion, which will add about 37 jobs, could not be sustained by the septic system.

The sewer extension has been in the works for years, and at first led to some bad blood between Lancaster and Leominster about maintenance of the system.

Officials in Lancaster were concerned that Leominster, which controls the sewer system, would hold hostage the state grant. However, in 2006, an agreement was worked out on which community would be responsible for maintenance costs, and which would have final say over who can tie into the line.

State Sen. Robert A. Antonioni, D-Leominster, who participated in the teleconference, acknowledged yesterday that the sewer connection has been a "long-standing problem," and said he is relieved that the governor has awarded the grant.

"It's clear that the governor and his administration have listened, and are clearly paying attention to this region," Mr. Antonioni said.

State Rep. Harold P. Naughton Jr., D-Clinton, represents a section of Lancaster. During the conference, he thanked Lancaster officials and business owners for "being incredibly patient" while waiting for the sewer connection.

"They are a forward-looking town. They know how they want to develop," he said.

State Rep. Jennifer L. Flanagan, D-Leominster, remarked that the Tanzio Road improvements have been "10 years coming."

"Regionalization is the key issue here," she said.

Mr. Patrick, who came to The Weetabix Co. in Clinton at the end of May to celebrate the cereal company's new equipment and warehouse, said such expansion in the state is part of his MORE Jobs Program.

The program, he said, provides money to support partnerships between municipalities and the private sector to expand and build, creating jobs.

"It's all about expansion - not just up, but out," Mr. Patrick said. "There are growth centers all over the commonwealth. The MORE program is a complementary state partnership mainly for infrastructure."

The Workforce Training Grants were awarded to Creative Print Products and Albright Technologies, both in Leominster.

Creative Print got $19,605 to train eight employees in advanced software technologies. Albright, which makes molded silicone products, got $17,500 to train seven employees in management systems, auditing, and principals of lean manufacturing. The company recently moved from Sterling to Litchfield Street in Leominster.

The grants are to keep the state's work force current with new technology and business practices.

"They are much more specific to what local government and businesses tell us they want," Mr. Patrick said.