Route 128 Lures Honeywell’s Global Retail Business Out Of Rhode Island
Even the suburbs are getting in on Greater Boston’s corporate relocation win streak.
Honeywell International announced Tuesday it will move its global retail headquarters from North Smithfield, Rhode Island, to Westwood, Massachusetts. The company signed a lease for 16K SF at National Development’s 101 Station Drive, the Boston Business Journal reports.
The office is near the Route 128 Amtrak and commuter rail station and New England Development's University Station mixed-use project.
Honeywell’s retail component manufactures and sells outdoor and work safety gear under such brands as Xtratuf, Oliver Boot and Muck Boot. The company expects to move 40 employees to the Westwood office by the end of 2017 and could grow to 100 over the next three years.
The company is seeking a tax break from Massachusetts for the move. The Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council will consider the request at a meeting Wednesday in Worcester. Once it determines a value for 101 Station Drive, Westwood could provide its own financial incentive package to the company for locating 17 miles from downtown Boston.
“We’ll review with our finance department to determine the specific incentives that might be possible,” Westwood Economic Development Director Nora Loughnane told the BBJ.
