Governor Edward J. King Opens $8 Million Factory Mutual Conference Center on Route 1 in Norwood-November 7, 1980

Chief Executive Signs Economic Development Review Order During Dedication of Advanced National Training Facility

Gov. Edward J. King announced during yesterday’s opening of Factory Mutual’s new $8 million conference center that he has ordered top administration officials to undertake a review of state regulations concerning economic development. The review is intended to help eliminate excess regulations in construction and economic development, King said, adding that all cabinet secretaries would have two years in which to complete the task. An expanded tax base tied to economic growth will be especially important after passage of Proposition 2 1/2, King said. The object of the review is to simplify the rules regulating business in the state, the governor told his audience at Factory Mutual.

Factory Mutual, a research and development company owned by four major property insurance companies, provides technical assistance to heavy industry in the area of loss prevention. The Route 1 conference center, which took 15 months to build, was designed as a national training facility for Factory Mutual employees and loss prevention officers employed by clients of its parent companies. The center has two major wings: one houses an academic area with 24 meeting rooms, each equipped with the latest audiovisual facilities, and a complete television production studio; the other wing has living quarters for 126 students and conference attendees, including a cafeteria-style restaurant, a bar and lounge, exercise and game rooms, and a sauna.

Speaking to about 100 Factory Mutual executives and guests, company president John Love thanked King for his assistance in helping cut red tape and “for pushing permits and licenses through for us. Without your help, construction would have been delayed, which might well have cost us another $2 million.” Norwood Town Manager John Carroll commented on the cooperation “evidenced here today between the state, private enterprise and the town of Norwood. The town endeavored at all times to get this building up.” Carroll promised that Factory Mutual will share in the $6 million settlement received from Boston Edison for overcharging the municipal light department. Although he didn’t have the exact amount, Carroll said, “We’ll be sending Factory Mutual a check for thousands of dollars.”

Gov. King emphasized his commitment to the development of business within Massachusetts and affirmed his support for nuclear power and off-shore oil exploration. “Some people,” the governor said, “don’t like to talk about those things, but they are fundamental to employment and I am strongly and actively going to see that off-shore drilling begins soon and I will support nuclear power.” It was then that the governor signed the executive order requiring each of the state’s cabinet secretaries to review all regulations affecting construction and economic development, and to assure that the new rules are written in “plain, direct language, organized and presented in a way that makes it unambiguous to the parties it affects.” Photographs of the opening events and studio tapings were captured by staff photographers Daniel T. Power.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger