CHELMSFORD, MA – The Town of Chelmsford, MA announced that Digital Federal Credit Union, better known as DCU, has purchased the building located at 297 Billerica Road – the former headquarters of Kronos.
DCU plans to utilize the space as an additional administrative building. This expansion strategy will allow for needed space to add to their rapidly growing employee base at its two Marlborough, MA offices, satellite call center in Lowell, MA, and Fintech Innovation Center in Boston, MA.
“The Town of Chelmsford welcomes DCU to the Route 129 business corridor,” said Paul Cohen, Chelmsford Town Manager. “DCU is the preeminent credit union in New England. This is a fantastic addition to the Town’s recently rezoned commercial district.”
DCU plans to start renovations as early as this month and expects to occupy the space in the first quarter of 2018. The building is ideally suited and is comparable in size to their Marlborough facilities.
“This is a big win for the Town of Chelmsford and our effort to revitalize 623 acres of prime commercial property along the Route 3 corridor,” stated Donald Van Dyne, Chair of the Economic Development Commission. “DCU’s commitment and investment in Chelmsford and the creation of new jobs exemplifies our vision for healthy economic development. We look forward to partnering with DCU.”
DCU will be located in one of the critical employment centers of the 495-technology corridor along Route 129 at the intersection of Route 3 and Route 495 and will be joining a number of existing industry clusters, including; defense & homeland security, communications & software, life sciences, and analytical instruments.
“A primary locational decision factor for DCU was the ability for the future expansion of the building and / or parking,” said Evan Belansky, Director of Community Development. “I was pleased to inform DCU that the newly adopted Route 129 zoning overlay not only accommodates future building expansion but specifically incentivizes the construction of parking structures based upon the overlay’s flexible zoning.”
“After an extensive search, we were delighted to identify the new property in Chelmsford for DCU,” stated Garry Holmes, President of R.W. Holmes Realty Co., Inc. “The three story 129,000 square foot office building was custom designed as the corporate headquarters for Kronos. The finishes are impeccable and the building includes numerous collaboration spaces, state-of-the-art data center, outdoor grilling and seating, training rooms, in house café, and shower/locker rooms. The building is literally in move-in condition and creates a tremendous environment for DCU employees.”
At nearly 1,200 employees, each DCU team member is grateful to have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of their members. Whatever their financial need is, they are there to help — with personalized advice and innovative products and services — to ensuring that all their members achieve their respective financial goals. The newly added location will allow DCU to tap into the Greater Chelmsford area and Southern New Hampshire to expand its workforce.
DCU will host a Job Fair on Wednesday, September 20 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. inside the Chelmsford Radisson Hotel and Suites’ Grand Ballroom. Interviews will be conducted onsite to fill openings at DCU’s Chelmsford and Lowell offices – those with call center experience are encouraged to attend.
“We believe it is important to strengthen our impact in the communities we serve, live, and work in,” said Laurie LaChapelle, DCU’s Vice President of Finance and Chair of DCU for Kids, the credit union’s non-profit charitable foundation. “DCU is committed to making a difference beyond traditional banking for our members and employees. We look at this expansion to be mutually beneficial to the local economy and DCU.”
DCU has already engaged the services of ahp Architects based out of Chelmsford. ahp Architects provides architecture, planning, and interior design expertise. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with DCU as they expand into their new location and look forward to building a lasting relationship with their team.” stated Corinne Maleski, Director of Interior Design of ahp Architects.
DCU continues to experience tremendous growth throughout the credit union both with membership and its employee base. Thanks largely to their members who told their friends and families about DCU, the credit union now has more than 670,000 members across the United States. In Chelmsford alone, DCU has over 2,500 members and nearly 42,000 within a 10-mile radius of the town.
Over 73,000 members have joined DCU so far in 2017 with more than half of this growth originating from MA and NH. The credit union attracts an average of over 9,000 new members a month, with over 10,000 new members joining in August – a new milestone for DCU.
DCU is one of the fastest growing credit unions in the United States – not only delivering exceptional banking products and services, but by also genuinely caring about their members and employees. From lending money to a member who is in the process of purchasing their first home to lending a helping hand to those who need it most – that’s just The DCU Way. Three simple philosophies make up The DCU Way: people come first, do the right thing, and make a difference.
Credit unions were built on the philosophy of people helping people. DCU and DCU for Kids takes that responsibility seriously. They strive to make a difference in the communities that their members and employees live and work by supporting local businesses as they grow and create jobs, by donating to charities, and by investing in programs that play a vital role in the lives of children, families, and veterans.
In 2014, DCU recognized there needed to be a better, modern way to help individuals with short-term financial needs that other traditional lending programs could not fill. So, they created Axuda, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, that provides an online community where lenders can give and borrowers can pay it forward.
DCU indicates that they are committed to supporting a number of organizations in the Greater Chelmsford area including: local police and fire departments, libraries, veterans’ programs, afterschool programs, and food banks/pantries through donations by the end of the year.
Strategically located at the intersection of Route 495 and Route 3, the Town of Chelmsford provides exceptional proximity to Greater Boston and southern NH businesses in the region the advantage of being close to extensive markets, suppliers, and research facilities.
Surprising and breathtaking beauty in nestled trails, beaches and pathways give Chelmsford that small town feel and reflect its rural past. As a community, they thrive on the enthusiastic sense of volunteerism and engagement exhibited through their nearly 34,000 residents and local businesses.
Their school system is ranked among the best in the state. Chelmsford has received a Green Community designation from the State of MA and been voted in the top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. by Money Magazine.
DCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative serving more than 670,000 members across all 50 states and by offering a full range of financial services to consumers and businesses, including banking, lending, financial wealth management, insurance, and realty products.
