Occum Industrial Center
Project Updates Winter 2026
In 2025, Occum Industrial Center (OIC) emerged from complex design, engineering and permitting processes with municipal and state level approvals and remains in a promising position as the single most transformational project for the City of Norwich. The site represents the potential for over $300M in capital investment by a variety of industrial users. This type of investment can produce significant municipal tax revenue that will have a positive effect on the mill rate and the affordability of municipal services.
Significant progress has been made over the last several months at the Occum Industrial Center with action across each of the 3 major components of this project:
- Construction of a dedicated arterial road, called Occum Way, that will provide access to the Occum Industrial Center and ensure industrial traffic stays off neighborhood roads. Funded by State of CT CIF 2030 grant, $11.3 million.
- Sale and Development of Lots to commercial users, which will grow the City Grand List and produce significant commercial and industrial tax revenue that will shift the burden from individual homeowners, and
- Improvement at the Exit 18 interchange with Route 97 to improve the safety and efficiency of that intersection which is currently outdated and unsignalized. Funded by a Federal BUILD Grant, submitted in February 2026 for $8.6 million, results in June 2026.
The Project will modernize the interchange by constructing the elements described below:
- Modification of the existing I-395 southbound (SB) access ramp by construction of a new traffic circle that will tie into I-395 SB (both on-ramp and off-ramp), a new arterial road (constructed outside of the Project scope) connecting to OIC, and a frontage road created through reuse of the existing SB ramps connecting to Route 97
- Modification of the I-395 northbound (NB) off-ramp to add an additional turn lane
Improvement of three intersections on Route 97, including:
- Installation of a new traffic signal system and approach turn lanes at the Route 97 intersection with the frontage road
- Installation of a new traffic signal system and approach turn lanes at the Route 97 intersection with the I-395 NB access ramps
- Relocation of the intersection of local road Mish Drive and Route 97 to a location approximately 200 feet south along Route 97, and realignment of Mish Drive to form a “T” intersection
Occum Industrial Center Planning and Execution Timeline
Lot Development Progress Map
The site has been actively marketed by Cushman & Wakefield and Connecticut’s AdvanceCT team generating interest from a Fortune 100 company, a German advanced manufacturing company, a regional dairy farming operator, and a local construction firm who are likely to all be under Letters of Intent in 1Q 2026.
• The subdivision plan approved in early 2024 was modified in order to present a larger site for the Fortune 100 company to meet their demands. This new re-subdivision plan was approved by Commission on the City Plan in November 2025 creating the conditions required to move to a site plan with our proposed anchor tenant. We continue weekly coordination meetings to facilitate the site plan preparation and a tenant due diligence.
The diligence period has been extended to June of 2026 and we are hopeful for an announcement in 2Q 2026.
2025 Project Updates
Read more below to learn about the Occum Industrial Center then take a short 10-question survey.
Occum Industrial Center (OIC) is a proposed 184-acre industrial park at Exit 18, US Interstate 395 in the Occum area of Norwich, Connecticut. The City of Norwich in collaboration with Norwich Community Development Corporation (NCDC) is the developer of the Project.
OIC is projected to host between 1,200,000 to 1,800,000 square feet of logistics, warehouse, light manufacturing, and flex space providing employment opportunities ranging from 2,300 to 3,000 jobs.
The project includes development of a new 7,700 foot limited access industrial roadway (Occum Way) to service 12 industrial lots as well as dedicated open space. This road is funded by a Community Investment Fund 2030 grant for $11.39 million dollars.
OIC is positioned astride I-395 and Occum Way will connect directly to Exit 18. The City of Norwich is currently pursuing a federal Department of Transportation Raise Grant which will improve the geometry of the ramps, improve acceleration/deceleration lanes, add signalization, and provide pedestrian and bicycle access to the industrial park.
Definitions:
Traffic Operations Analysis
Intersection Performance Measures
Critical performance measures evaluated for study area intersections using Trafficware Synchro plus SimTraffic 10 include:
▪ Level of Service (described below)
▪ Volume to Capacity Ratio (v/c) ▪ Delay (in seconds)
▪ 50th and 95th Percentile Queue Length (in ft)
Level of Service (LOS) analysis provides a measurement of the delay experienced at an intersection because of traffic operations at that intersection.
In general, there are six levels of service; Level of Service A to Level of Service F.
The highest, Level of Service A, describes a condition of free flow, with low volumes and high speeds.
Level of Service B represents a stable traffic flow with operating speeds beginning to be restricted somewhat by traffic conditions.
Level of Service C, which is normally utilized for design purposes, describes a stable condition of traffic operation. It entails moderately restricted movements, but traffic conditions are not objectionable to motorists.
Level of Service D reflects a condition of more restrictive movements for motorists and influence of congestion becomes more noticeable.
Level of Service E is representative of the actual capacity of the roadway or intersection and involves delay to all motorists due to congestion.
The lowest, Level of Service F, is described as force flow and is characterized by volumes greater than the theoretical roadway capacity. This is considered an unacceptable traffic operating condition.
Findings and Conclusions
A detailed traffic assessment has been undertaken for the proposed development comprised of 1,880,600 square feet in Norwich, Connecticut. The development will be accessed from Route 97, Canterbury Turnpike, and Lawler Lane. The proposed development will consist of approximately 1,290,900 S.F. of warehouse, manufacturing, and distribution, 411,800 S.F. of flex space, 160,000 S.F. data center, and 18,000 S.F. office space. The following is a list of findings and conclusions and our opinion on the traffic impact of the proposed development on the adjacent roadway network:
1. The construction of the proposed Internal East-West roadway between Lawler Road to the west and Route 97 to the east would provide an overall benefit in traffic circulation and access between the site and I-395, Route 97, Canterbury Turnpike, and other points.
2. The I-395 Southbound Ramps/Internal East-West Roadway intersection is anticipated to operate at an overall LOS A under the future (2033) Build AM and PM peak hour traffic conditions with the suggested traffic mitigation in place.
3. The Route 97/Internal East-West Roadway intersection is anticipated to operate at an overall LOS B under the future (2033) Build AM and PM peak hour traffic conditions with the suggested traffic mitigation in place
4. The Route 97/I-395 Northbound Ramps/Gas Station driveway is anticipated to operate at an overall LOS C or better under the future (2033) Build AM and PM peak hour traffic conditions with the suggested traffic mitigation in place.
5. The Canterbury Turnpike/Internal East-West Roadway intersection is anticipated to operate at an overall LOS A under the future (2033) Build AM and PM peak hour traffic conditions with the suggested traffic mitigation in place.
6. The Lawler Lane/Internal East-West Roadway intersection is anticipated to operate at an overall LOS A under the future (2033) Build AM and PM peak hour traffic conditions with the suggested traffic mitigation in place.
7. Any proposed improvements to I-395 including the on and the off ramps should be designed to meet FHWA and CTDOT standards.
8. The roundabouts on the Internal East-West roadway at I-395 Southbound ramps and Canterbury Turnpike should be designed to meet City of Norwich and CTDOT standards.
9. All site driveways to the proposed development should be designed in accord with the City of Norwich standards.
In conclusion, the planned Norwich Industrial Park development will not create a significant impact to the adjacent roadway system and the nearby study area. We trust this traffic assessment report addresses the traffic issues associated with the proposed development and assists in advancing this project to a successful completion. Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions or comments.
March 2023 - NCDC has been awarded over $11 million dollars from the Community Investment Fund through the State of Connecticut. NCDC, the City of Norwich, Norwich Public Utilities, and our dedicated partners will utilize these funds to create arterial road infrastructure to create initial site access.
- $740,000 municipal investment
- $500,000 Urban Act Grant
- $11.315 million Community Investment Fund
- $3.1 million investment from NCDC through private mortgage investment to purchase land.
Net Public Benefit is a value placed on impacts to the municipality's grand list. The grand list value determines the mill rate, also known as the tax rate, for the businesses and residents of the municipality.
Business Park North has potential to reduce the mill rate by a minimum of 1 point to a conservative maximum of 4 points. A low-end reduction could mean an additional $300 in savings to the average homeowner.
Business Park North is estimated to create 1200 to 3000 good paying, permanent jobs.
- Entry level average starting pay $19.46 per hour plus benefits.
- Free or limited cost training
- Job placement assistance
The Stanley Israelite Business Park has an effective occupancy rate of 94%. The remaining production space is functionally obsolete for the majority of today's high-tech manufacturers.
Many have voiced concerns over environmental impacts. The following measures were proposed to alleviate those concerns:
- Reduced building heights.
- Increased buffers between areas adjacent to residential neighborhoods
- Environmentally sound drainage systems and run-off controls.
- Increased vegetation for both aesthetics and wildlife habitats.
- Approval from the Inland Wetlands Commission stating the project will have minimal impact on wetlands and is a responsible development.
- Creation of access roads to reduce noise and pollutants from tractor trailers.
- Responsible lighting plans to reduce light pollution.
- Proximity to workforce reducing commute time and carbon emissions from vehicles.
- Wide walking trails to allow interaction with natural environments by residents and visitors.
Business Park North's centralized location benefits many types of industrial and manufacturing-based businesses. Some of the target industries are:
- Off-shore wind power components
- Green technologies
- Medical device manufacturing
- Secure technology services
- Defense supply chain providers
Norwich Community Development Corporation, the City of Norwich, Norwich Public Utilities, the State of Connecticut, and our valued partners will continue to responsibly market Occum Industrial as a strategically located, convenient, ready to staff, high-tech industrial park to a wide range of businesses.
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Event date: March 6th, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
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