Business View Civil and Municipal | September 2022

121 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 O ver the past year, Dracut, Massachusetts has been focused on bringing in more business. The town of 33,000, located less than 30 miles outside of Boston, has hired a new Economic Development Planner and has made a push to attract, diversify, and bolster its local businesses. “Many towns around us are doing the same thing,” says Dan Phelps, who was hired for the planner’s role in August 2021. “They’re realizing that they need someone to be just focused on businesses and economic development. So Dracut is right in there and we’re pushing to find the best businesses available for the spaces that we have.” Phelps has been impressed with what he has seen so far from the progressive New England town, which is part of Middlesex County. He shares, “I’m getting to know the town and the diverse array of businesses that it provides. The amount of businesses that continue to open and thrive in Dracut is really, really impressive, and it was impressive before I came along. I’m trying to add to that and find businesses that are a good fit for Dracut.” Dracut, MASSACHUSETTS Where businesses thrive Owen & Ollie’s Restaurant is a popular draw and is the anchor of a renovated mill building originally built in the 1800s along Beaver Brook.