Bay State snack maker 88 Acres plans move to Canton
By Mike BergerCanton will soon have another company headquarters to lay claim to with the anticipated arrival of 88 Acres, makers of allergy-free snack bars.
Currently based in Boston, the company hopes to relocate to its new location at 85 John Road by the end of the year. It is no stranger to Canton, having operated a warehouse location for the past few years at 65 Shawmut Road.
According to the company website, 88 Acres, which is co-owned by spouses Nicole Ledoux and Rob Dalton, makes a variety of craft seed bars and butters using simple ingredients are free of the most common food allergens. The company name is a nod to Ledoux’s childhood home as she grew up on an 88-acre farm in North Brookfield.
The company is applying for state tax credits through the Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) and asked the Select Board Tuesday to waive building permit fees amounting to $17,800, which the board granted after the presentation.
The state program will provide 88 Acres with a tax credit for new hires. LeDoux said the company now has 100 team members but will add significantly to that total with more production shifts at the Canton facility. LeDoux and Dalton said as part of its community engagement efforts, they want to work with the Canton Public Schools’ Food Services program, the Department of Elder and Human Services, and the Canton Food Pantry.
In a related move, the board decided to assist with the same state type of application for Organogenesis as the company plans to expand its operations on Dan Road. The company asked the Select Board to waive $150,000 in building fees and the board, facing an August 17 deadline, agreed to waive $60,000 with the understanding that Organogenesis work with the board on enhanced community engagement opportunities. Members of the board, specifically Mike Loughran and Lisa Lopez, are continuing to talk with company officials about assisting Canton groups.
Officials exploring new food pantry location
In the other major news of the evening, the Select Board, at the suggestion of Canton Fire Chief and soon-to-be Town Administrator Charles Doody, agreed to look into the possibility of utilizing the former Ponkapoag School building on Route 138 as a new permanent home for the Canton Food Pantry. According to Food Pantry Coordinator Mary Buckley, the pantry has outgrown its current location in the basement of the Rodman building and needs more space to accommodate its client base of approximately 250 Canton families. The next step is for Doody …
See this week’s Citizen to continue reading and for more highlights from the August 2 Select Board meeting. Click here to order your subscription today!
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=89352
Posted by Mike Berger
on Aug 4 2022. Filed under News, Town Government.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
