Economic Pulse: Spotlight on Revere, Massachusetts 

December 20, 2021 8:24 am

The North Shore Alliance, or the “Alliance,” prides itself on supporting economic development initiatives across the 30 communities and four Gateway Cities of the North Shore of Massachusetts. Each month we will be conducting a community highlight. We will be taking a look at some of these communities, where they stand economically, and highlight commercial development sites that may be of interest to our readers. 

This month we will be taking a closer look at the city of Revere, Massachusetts, in both its historical place in Massachusetts chronicles and its current economic development issues. 

Paul Revere Statue Boston

A Word About Revere, Massachusetts

Revere is known as a small city with a big history. Paul Revere, the namesake of this city, is mainly known for his “midnight ride” through Boston, wherein he alerted the early colonial revolutionaries that, “The British are coming!” Revere was also venerated for his patriotic actions in the battle of Rumney Marsh, which is today known as Revere, MA.

Revere is located in Suffolk Country a mere 4 miles northeast of Boston, Massachusetts. It’s a residential suburb with a diverse population. A significant portion of the city consists of open water and wetlands. The latest census record puts Revere at a population of approximately 53,000. 

Mayor of Revere

What’s Happening in Revere, Massachusetts? 

The past two years have not been easy ones for the citizens of Revere. Mayor Brian Arrigo believes that his city was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, both in terms of illness and economic impact. 

According to the Journal of the Commonwealth, “When Covid-19 hit Revere, so did hunger for many residents. City officials had decades ago given a building to a nonprofit which no longer needed it. So the city set up a food distribution center there and ran a weekly food bank.”

The Commonwealth article, printed in the summer of 2021, explained that the city would be seeking long-term changes with federal recovery money. Municipalities, like Revere, were happy to receive an influx of money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The ARPA money carries a fair amount of flexibility in how it can be used beyond immediate public health needs. According to the wording of the bill, municipalities can use it for infrastructure, to fill revenue holes, to cover COVID-related public health and economic impacts, or to give bonuses to essential workers. 

Many municipalities are engaging in planning processes with local officials, businesses, and community residents to figure out the community’s needs and where to best use the financing for long-term gains. Municipal officials must decide how best to leverage the one-time funding to have a long-lasting impact. 

Resources 

The City of Revere has many helpful resources for economic development in their Office of Planning Development. For instance, if you are hoping to start a business in Revere, there is a link to a step-by-step guide to starting a business in the city on their site.

Additionally on the site is a Projects and Initiatives page that include planning for the future as well as development and master planning guides. 

Land development in the district in and around Gibson Park in relation to the adjacent Point of Pines and Riverside neighborhood, known as the RiverFront District, is also covered in depth on this site.