NEW BEDFORD, MA — The New Bedford State Pier warehouses are receiving a much needed lighting upgrade courtesy of two tenants working in conjunction with the New Bedford Department of Public Facilities and the Commonwealth’s DCR Partnering Program. Highliner Events, organizer of Commercial Marine Expo (CME), and Maritime International are funding the nearly $10,000 upgrade that will replace the buildings’ aging lighting and add additional lighting fixtures, with the City and the Commonwealth providing the installation of the new fixtures.
“The existing lighting in the buildings is highly inefficient and extremely noisy, as well,” says CME show director Ted Hugger. “Our exhibitors at CME 2010 told us that standing under the loud buzz of those lights in Building 2 for two days was an unpleasant experience, and made conversations with attendees difficult. The lighting in Building 1 was insufficient, requiring us to rig supplement lighting.
“The community has made significant investments in upgrading the buildings since our first event in 2010, so we decided we’d like to contribute to the building improvements with this lighting upgrade,” Hugger explains. “And when Carlos Rita, facilities manager for storage tenant Maritime International learned of our plans, he offered to partner with us.”
“This is another excellent example of a successful public/private partnership that brings economic development to New Bedford,” says Kenneth Blanchard, Superintendent of Public Works, Department of Public Facilities. Pier Manager Capt. Richard Cunio agrees: “This is a perfect example of how the Commonwealth’s ‘Fix it First’ and DCR’s Partnering program works to the benefit of public, municipal and private concerns.”
The project includes adding eight additional fixtures and replacing 42 existing lights with highly efficient, 6-tube, T8 high-bay fluorescent units. The installation will be completed by the end of May, in time for CME’s return to New Bedford, June 13-14.