The Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center in Fall River has its first three tenants.
International Compliance Systems, Micro Magnetics, and Predictive Technology Inc., have all relocated to the ATMC, designed as the anchor for the redevelopment of the 17-acre Kerr Mill Site and funded by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
UMass Dartmouth, which leases the building from the Mass Development Finance Agency, has been charged with finding tenants for half of the 60,000-square-foot building, with the other half being used for research and development by university staff and students.
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When the ATMC officially opened in November it was supposed to be the foundation of the South Coast Research and Technology Park. Developers had hoped that the entire new park would create about 600 new jobs for the city, but with UMass officials still looking to offset a $600,000 cut in state funding, plans for a second building are on hold.
Still, owners of the three companies that now call the AMTC home, aren’t worried about the center’s future.
"The decision to locate in the ATMC was based on location, visibility and resources," said Tracey Dodenhoff, former president of Rhode Island’s Slater Center for Design Innovation, and founder of PTI, which intends to make systems for diagnosing respiratory disorders. "We believe that this decision has the potential to positively impact our commercialization timeline."
Steve Hemingway, president of International Compliance Systems, Inc., which develops software to help companies efficiently manage accountability for health, safety and environmental programs, agreed.
"We have found that Southeastern Massachusetts offers a wealth of talent, a comfortable lifestyle, and the infrastructure necessary to help us succeed," he said. "In relocating to the Advanced Technology Center, we are confident that we will continue to properly serve our customers, employees and investors."
Micro Magnetics President John Miller said the ATMC could be at the heart of resurgence in technology companies in the local economy.
"Micro Magnetics sees a great potential in locating in Fall River," he said. "I believe that Fall River has, with the ATMC and other initiatives, put the right pieces into place to foster the high technology industry growth."
The facility consists of research and partnering laboratories, a conference center, and the Technology Venture Center, which offers numerous services to support developing business.
ATMC Director Dr. Roy Miller said the center’s true potential is still ahead.
"This is much like starting a new company," he said. "We are still in the process of establishing our foundation. We have to make sure that the infrastructure is in place before we move to the next level."
