AVTECH Closes On Purchase Of Cutler MillRenovation & Improvements Have Already Begun
Newport, RI - AVTECH Software (AVTECH), the worldwide leader in 'IT & Facilities Environment Monitoring' hardware, has formally closed on the purchase of the Cutler Mill complex in Warren, RI on December 17th, 2008. The main Cutler Mill building is a 41,000+ sf brick structure built in 1868 by Cutler Manufacturing. Included on the 2.13 acre property is an additional 7,960 sf out building previously known as 'The Market At Cutler Mill'. The Cutler Mill complex is located at the intersection of Cutler Street and Child Street (State Route 103), just East of Main Street in the heart of Warren, RI. AVTECH has already begun renovation activities and plans to move their corporate headquarters from their present facility in Newport, RI to the mill building as early as April 1, 2009.
The Cutler Mill building will continue to house several other prominent local businesses, including the East Bay Chamber of Commerce, Basically British Tea Room, Imago Art Gallery, Yoga Loft and Foundation for Integrity & Research in Medicine (FIRM). The Rhode Island Fencing Academy has already solidified their plan to relocate by December 31st into the nearby Tourister Mill just across town. Cutler Mill Accupuncture & Herb will relocate sometime in January. AVTECH plans to lease the market building to another food market, deli or similar business because the building recently implemented significant improvements for that primary use.
AVTECH became interested in the mill complex just 90 days ago after Fab Goldberg, owner of Basically British, notified Anne & Michael Sigourney that the Cutler Mill building was for sale. As long term customers of the tea shop, Fab knew they were looking for a building to relocate AVTECH. After Michael met with the mill owner, Dave Wescott, who had owned Cutler Mill since 2002, AVTECH made a formal offer. Dave made important improvements to the property during his 5 years of ownership that include bringing the mill up to proper building, fire and R.I.D.E.M. requirements. However, because of the mill's size and history, local and state authorities wanted to ensure the planned usage was appropriate and that the property is safe. Although no safety concerns exist, the R.I.D.E.M. had scheduled to monitor the property for the next year or more. This would have effectively blocked the sale of Cutler Mill. However, with significant help from Alan Crisman, Director of the Mount Hope Enterprise Zone, R.I.D.E.M. re-evaluated the property and agreed that the need for ongoing monitoring did not exist. They released a complete letter of closure for the property and the sale was soon completed. AVTECH will be improving the property in many ways and expects to provide enhancements like free wireless internet access for mill tenants and visitors, improved lighting and signage, energy saving enhancements and eventually a restoration of the main tower.
AVTECH had previously worked for the last two years to get local and state laws changed so that they could purchase the now unused Sheffield School building on Broadway in Newport, RI. Although the city and community as a whole had been extremely receptive, the overall process simply took longer than AVTECH could afford to wait. They have been in desperate need of space for the last year and stopped hiring new employees because they did not have room for them. Sigourney broadened his search for a new location about 6 months ago and almost purchased a building in Middletown, Rhode Island in September until the owner decided not to sell. He then started looking off island and within a week, Sigourney discovered the Cutler Mill opportunity and the rest is now history. "It will be sad to leave Newport after 14 years and working so hard to stay here," says Sigourney. "We did what we could and now look to a bright new future in Warren, RI. The Warren community appears to be very supportive and excited that we have decided to make it our new home."
AVTECH currently resides in Newport, Rhode Island at the old mill building near the Gate 1 entry to the Newport Naval Station. They share the mill building with SAIC, a large government contractor. AVTECH is the 2nd largest employer in that complex and has additional staff located in Pennsylvania, Washington and Sheffield, England. With over 2,400 resellers worldwide, AVTECH expects to more than double their sales revenues each of the next few years. Many of their resellers will be trained at the new Cutler Mill facility. "We'll be bringing resellers from around the world in small groups to our Cutler Mill facility for training," says Sigourney, "this will expose them to Warren and the beautiful East Bay part of Rhode Island, as well as bring ever increasing revenues to local businesses for rooms, meals, services and more." AVTECH is currently the largest UPS and USPS customer in Newport, second only to the collective volume of the Newport Navy Base. AVTECH's impact on the local economy is expected to reach tens of millions in recyclable revenue for Warren and surrounding communities.
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Originally founded in 1988 in Newport Beach, California, founder Michael Sigourney relocated the company to Newport, Rhode Island in 1993 to be closer to Europe and high tech publishers based in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. After surviving significant changes in the computer industry during the first 15 years, including the introduction and development of the internet, AVTECH has emerged as the leader in developing and manufacturing products that monitor temperature, power, humidity, flood, air flow and other critical environmental conditions in data centers and other facilities. AVTECH brands include 'Room Alert', 'TemPageR' and 'PageR Enterprise'. Their primary advantage is a deep strength in software development and a total commitment to their customers. AVTECH now serves 110,000 users at more than 35,000 organizations across 104 countries and Antarctica. Current customers include every branch of the U.S. government and military, over 80% of the Fortune 1000, 37 of 50 states, all provincial governments in Canada, United Nations, Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, Google, Yahoo, Amazon.com, Apple, IBM, Hewlett Packard, UPS, Federal Express, Boston Celtics and thousands more.
Newport, RI - AVTECH Software (AVTECH), the worldwide leader in 'IT & Facilities Environment Monitoring' hardware, has formally closed on the purchase of the Cutler Mill complex in Warren, RI on December 17th, 2008. The main Cutler Mill building is a 41,000+ sf brick structure built in 1868 by Cutler Manufacturing. Included on the 2.13 acre property is an additional 7,960 sf out building previously known as 'The Market At Cutler Mill'. The Cutler Mill complex is located at the intersection of Cutler Street and Child Street (State Route 103), just East of Main Street in the heart of Warren, RI. AVTECH has already begun renovation activities and plans to move their corporate headquarters from their present facility in Newport, RI to the mill building as early as April 1, 2009.
AVTECH Software, Inc.