Leicester recently recognized that there will be certain spill-over effects of regional growth, particularly since this is an abutting community to the City of Worcester, and at the town meeting overwhelmingly passed critical zoning changes that would be conducive to second level industries such as machine tooling, plastics, and hardware products for the high-tech and bio-tech companies.  These companies will find somewhat less expensive land and a lowered amount of competition for acceptable parcels.   Large areas of the community are covered by lakes, ponds and streams.  There is a high percentage of land holdings in the town owned by public entities which have reserved them for water supply or airport purposes. This provides an opportunity for regional recreational development.  Trails for hiking, equestrian and biking use which link across the whole region are being extensively developed. 

In addition, historic pride is taken into account as Leicester seeks inclusion in the Blackstone National Heritage Corridor, a significant recognized National Park Service historic project.  Leicester serves a need within the region for passive recreation, a vital component of the quality of life of the region's citizens living, working and touring the area and will continue to do so in the future.  Leicester has lost hundreds of manufacturing positions as the textile industry disappeared.  It is clear that Leicester continues to depend upon Worcester, the second largest city in the Commonwealth, as a source of employment for its residents.  The retail trade and service industries appear to offer the opportunities for realistic expansion of the present employment base.  It is also clear, however, that the economic strengths of the greater Worcester economy both now and with its growth potential over the next few decades will serve to buttress the needs of Leicester in terms of available jobs for its residents and further will likely cause the expansion of Leicester's commercial and industrial base with small firms functioning in relation to the needs of industry and the region.