For decades, towns and developers in Central Massachusetts have tussled with what to do with the aging mill buildings peppered around the region.
Although housing and mixed-use developments have become popular in recent years, Joseph Villatico has another idea, at least in Dudley: reviving one mill’s past life as a local manufacturer by using it to grow, process and sell cannabis in a massive 175,000-square-foot facility.
Under his guidance, Greatest Hits is working to bring an array of employment opportunities to an otherwise quiet part of South Central Worcester County, including positions in sales, marketing, human resources, manufacturing and more. If all goes well, the facility will be open by 2022 and his influence has the capacity to be a boon for the region’s workforce, while paying homage to the manufacturing industry that defined the Webster-Dudley region for decades in the wake of the American Industrial Revolution.
What do you think the future holds for Central Mass.? “Central Mass. has really embraced this new and upcoming sector. With more businesses locating to the area, this can only help continue the rise of property values, employment opportunities, and the expansion of further business opportunities.”
A biker: Villatico was a professional motocross racer and raced professionally for more than 15 years.
