Amesbury, Massachusetts

AMESBURY , MASSACHUSETTS “We have all sorts of people in each big building,” says Cleveland. “It’s pretty cool to see these types of entrepreneurs take it and run with it. There are also the entrepreneurs that are doing the smaller scale things or just working on their idea and testing it out. It gives them the flexibility in a lot of these spaces to take it to the next level.” The small, multi-use buildings are a way to help small businesses get off the ground. Blackburn Energy was one such business that started in a small space but has since expanded. According to Cleveland, “Blackburn has been making itself well known for having a hybrid engine for diesel trucks, so that when they are at a truck stop – or stop for the night wherever they have to be – they are not contributing greenhouse gas emissions from idling. They are taking it to the next level and were able to do that and bring it to scale and bring their product to market here in Amesbury because of that flexibility in an old mill space.” Amesbury has such a wealth of entrepreneurs thanks to its vocational schools, like Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School – a unique learning community located on a 110- acre campus. Essex North Shore offers 25 Career Technical Education Programs that have been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The school trains people to gain apprenticeships in specific programs and jobs, and students leave Essex North Shore with opportunities that aren’t available in traditional schools. Gove reports, Courtesy of Kate Donovan Photography