![]() In many cities, outdated zoning codes actually keep small businesses from finding a home and taking part in the community’s economy. Many aspiring business owners face the challenge of finding a space to set up shop. Revisit zoning codes to support burgeoning business communities With over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, Assemble Lab founder Sharon began her career in New York City but is proud to base her own business out of Lowell because of its affordability and close proximity to Boston. Studio leaders Sharon Drelick, Karen Blumsack, and Sara Breen work with designers to develop a wide range of products and services to include pattern-making, sewing, fabric & trim resources, costing, tech packs, sourcing and production management/consulting. These spaces also provide 3D printers, CNC routers (computer-controlled cutting machines), and other advanced machinery that allow businesses to prototype products.Īssemble Lab, for example, is one business riding the wave of Lowell’s revival.Ī resource center for designing apparel, Assemble Lab challenges the typical conceptions of factory work by providing an artistic space for creative entrepreneurs. This place-based approach to economic development has produced flexible spaces that accommodate growing businesses. The City of Lowell has encouraged the reuse of its historic buildings by retrofitting mothballed factories and textile mills into production and shared use spaces. Over the last few years, the city has leveraged its textile traditions to propel cutting-edge economic development strategies, attracting an influx of small-scale businesses to Lowell’s downtown and historic Acre neighborhood. The fourth-largest city in Massachusetts, located an hour outside of Boston, Lowell is proud of its manufacturing legacy, but also recognizes the need to modernize their economy. This former mill town was once the epicenter of the textile industry and at the forefront of apparel production. Lowell, Massachusetts is commonly known as the cradle of the American industrial revolution. Refitting Lowell’s industrial past for a sustainable future Learn how Lowell transformed its mothballed factories and textile mills into production and shared-use spaces. We begin with Lowell, a former mill town that was once the epicenter of the textile industry. ![]() ![]() This series will highlight the merits of small-scale manufacturing and how it’s contributing to the character, appeal, and success of smart downtowns in Lowell, MA Twin Falls, ID and Knoxville, TN. ![]() With the recent release of Made in Place: Small-Scale Manufacturing and Neighborhood Revitalization, a new report from Smart Growth America in partnership with Recast City, we’re spotlighting a few of the standout examples of cities that have fostered a small-scale manufacturing sector to revitalize their local economy. How communities are using small-scale manufacturing to build great places: Lowell, MA ![]()
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