Page 24 - BusinessWest February 3, 2025

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Marois
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the various businesses under what could be called the Marois umbrella.
That includes a portfolio of commercial real-estate properties, as well as Orion Farms North and South, with the former sitting on 40 rolling acres in South Had-
ley, an old dairy farm that Marois acquired decades ago, and the latter an eques- trian facility in Wellington, Fla., where Evans trains during the cold months and competes at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
“I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it, but the more I got into it, the more I fell in love with the prospect of having some type of farm there,” he said, noting that the acreage is now home to a multi-faceted business. He and partner Linda Evans, an accomplished rider and trainer who has competed in shows resulting in many national champions, have a riding school catering to beginners and experts alike, with a stable of 40 horses (Warmblood show jumpers for the most part), as well as boarding and other services.
Like the construction company, the horse farms are a labor of love for Marois, who grew up near the South Hadley farm and developed a passion for riding him- self, although he’s mostly retired from that activity.
Bottom Line
He has no plans to retire from his various businesses, though.
He joked that the announced transition plans are designed to “let people know that they don’t have to call me; they can call Carl — although they can call me if they want.
“And I can focus on getting old,” he continued with a laugh, adding quickly that his focus will actually be on his businesses, people, horses, and the continuation of what he started 52 years ago.
That would be a success story on every level imaginable. BW Grant
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route through the narrow Hoosic River valley, but changing personnel, a lack of financial resources, and the challenges of navigating the still-active rail lines in North Adams led to each proposal losing steam. Particularly problematic was the patchwork of neighborhoods between the towns, which in past proposals meant several potentially dangerous trail crossings of Route 2.
“This project will be key to strengthening the connections between our neigh- boring communities,” Williamstown Town Manager Robert Menicocci said. “It will allow the final connection between Williamstown and the broader regional bike- path network to finally move toward construction, a vision that has been in our region for decades.”
A 1.75-mile section of the east-west trail will traverse land assembled as part of the TOURISTS hotel campus. TOURISTS partners Ben Svenson and Eric Kerns have advocated for this project and contributed significant time and resources positioning it for this kind of major support.
“When we kicked off our hotel project in 2015, bike paths were progressing in neighboring communities while the North Adams sections were stalled, despite having indisputably transformative economic, community, and environmental value,” Kerns said. “Since then, we’ve done everything we can to eliminate barri- ers, raised funds to support progress, and told this ambitious story to anyone and everyone who would listen. This regional coalition, and the watershed funding it has enabled, is the glorious manifestation of the creative, community, and now financial capital we’ve all been working so hard to assemble.”
MASS MoCA’s campus will serve as the rotary where the east-west Adven-
ture Trail and north-south Ashuwillticook Rail Trail connect. Morgan Everett, MASS MoCA’s director of Public Initiatives and Real Estate, noted that, “by work- ing together to realize this essential bike and pedestrian trail that will surround MASS MoCA’s campus, we have the exciting chance to link our local communities, businesses, and cultural institutions, while also improving the daily lives of resi- dents and enriching the experience of visitors. This long-desired dream is now an incredible opportunity for us all to usher in a new era of connectedness, vibrancy, and sustainability for the region.”
Beyond MASS MoCA, the trail will continue through North Adams south along the Hoosic River for three miles to Hodges Cross Road adjacent to the McCann Technical School campus, following the river until reaching Lime Street in Adams, the current terminus of the 14-mile Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.
“The vision for a regional bike path through the Berkshires has been decades in the making and, after today, takes a major step toward realization,” Adams Selectboard Chair John Duval said. “Development of the RAISE application was a true regional and collaborative effort that has resulted in a once-in-a-lifetime fund- ing award and will position the project for future construction. The town cannot thank BRPC enough for its leadership and assistance in this effort.” BW
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