» BSX Buys Irish Stent Firm (posted Yesterday at 11:09am)
Natick-based Boston Scientific Corp. has acquired Irish coronary stent company Labcoat Limited.
» Framingham Security Firm Granted Patent (posted Yesterday at 11:08am)
S2 Security Corp. of Framingham has been awarded a patent that covers the architecture of its entire product line.
» YWCA Lands $343K State Grant (posted Yesterday at 11:05am)
The YWCA of Central Massachusetts has been awarded a $343,905 grant from the state's Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund.
» New Low For State Business Confidence (posted Yesterday at 11:03am)
The Associated Industries of Massachusetts' Business Confidence Index hit an all-time low in December.
» Factory Orders, Shipments Drop In November (posted Yesterday at 10:59am)
Falling prices and demand pushed shipments from American factories down 5.3 percent to $393.8 billion in November, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
» Auburn Building Catches $800K (posted 01/05/09 at 11:22am)
The building at 100 Southbridge St. in Auburn has been sold for $800,000.
Tuesday, January 13
Family and Medical Leave Act: Are You in Compliance?
Sponsor: Mirick O'Connell Attorneys At Law
Time: 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Place: Doubletree Hotel, 5400 Computer Drive, Westborough
Attorneys Nicholas Anastasopoulos and Marc Terry of Mirick O’Connell will present a seminar on the revised Family and Medical Leave Act regulations going into effect on January 16. This program is designed for employers with 50 or more employees who are covered by the FMLA.Cost: Free
Contact: mcgrenier@mirickoconnell.com
The Myth Of Recession-Proof Jobs
How certain sectors survive in a recession and how your job can, too
With unemployment increasing as the economy worsens (it has reached 6.5 percent in the City of Worcester), job-seekers are hungry for advice on which jobs and sectors are safest when things go sour.
Inside the Jan. 5, 2009 issue of the Worcester Business Journal
Review the contents of the WBJ's print edition.
New Biz Activity Down 2.1% In The Bay State
Worcester still a leader for entrepreneurial activity in Central Mass., followed by Framingham
For all the worry about the state’s economy, new business formations in the Bay State were down just 2.1 percent from January through October of 2008 compared to the previous year, according to an analysis of data by the Worcester Business Journal.
The Devens Dilemma Surfaces Again
Discussions on creating a town are moving forward
Two years ago, Ayer and Harvard voters blocked a plan that would have transformed the former military base of Devens into its own town.
Local Fitness Centers Cater To Corporate Members
Getting physical on the boss's dime doesn't have to cost a business a fortune
If the thought of those holiday confections settling in your midsection doesn’t motivate you to hit the gym, maybe an incentive from your boss will.
First Aid In The Business Office
What your office needs to avoid disaster
As the old saying goes, “Accidents can and do happen.” And even though your business might not involve physical labor, you need to be prepared in case one of your employees has even a minor accident. But it’s fairly simple to make sure your office has the equipment and the knowledge to handle most small workplace injuries.
Employers To Employees: Please Quit
Smoking cessation programs offer rewards for workers, companies
Smoking is banned in almost all Massachusetts workplaces. In many offices, managers have to deal with tension between smokers and nonsmokers over equal break time.
Harrington-Hubbard Hospitals Partner Up
Deal will keep small, struggling Hubbard afloat
When Hubbard Regional Hospital’s board decided the tiny, 22-bed hospital needed to find another institution to manage its operations, the list of candidates was quickly narrowed to two: Harrington Memorial Hospital in nearby Southbridge and Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, Conn.
WBJ Talk Back: Online reader comments from December 22 through December 30, 2008
Our last issue may have come out in the middle of the holiday season, but our readers still found time to give us their take. Here’s the latest roundup of reader reaction...
Why one piece of the construction industry is rife with illegality
If you talk to people in the construction industry about illegal subcontracting, it doesn’t take long for someone to mention drywall. Any kind of worker can be paid under the table or illegitimately labeled as a subcontractor, but somehow the drywall industry seems to be particularly vulnerable.
Debate Over Stem Cells Continues
When President-elect Barack Obama takes office this month, he’ll bring change, including an executive order to remove restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
Renewable Energy Is Still Just Business
Worcester's Walker Magnetics attracts energy jobs
It’s easy, when the renewable energy industry is brought up, to picture young, fresh-faced go-getters at the helm of such companies.
Q&A with Thomas Wellen, executive director of Marlborough 2010
Thomas Wellen is the new executive director of Marlborough 2010, a quasi-public organization that focuses on economic development. The organization, only 3 years old, was originally led by John Racine, who stepped down about two months ago. Wellen is well-known in Marlborough, having once been the city’s treasurer. He was also president and CEO at St. Mary’s Credit Union from 1994 to May 2007. In his new role, he’ll focus on how Marlborough 2010 can help the city as it continues to work on bringing in new businesses and helping the firms that are already there.
New hires and promotions for the Jan. 5, 2009 issue of the WBJ
The latest Movers & Shakers in Central Mass...
Biotech Group Pushes Back On Marketing Regs
Last year proved to be another promising year for the life sciences industry in New England, and the creation of a new, member-driven regional organization will make 2009 even more promising.
Bank Prez: Outlook Not So Bleak After All
A letter from Edward F. Manzi Jr. President & CEO Fidelity Bank, Leominster.
Letter: WoMag Owners On The Wrong Track
Letter from Lester Paquin, former employee of Worcester Magazine.
If there’s one person that can put all of us in our place it’s Mother Nature.
Photo Finish From The Jan. 5, 2009 Issue Of The WBJ
Familiar faces from the Central Mass. business community.
How Worcester’s concentration of biotech can work in its favor
As a venture capitalist targeting New England, I spend most of my working day looking for, and working with, growth-oriented, early-stage companies in the region. Like most early stage investors, I seek high growth industry sectors in which to find and fund companies.
Tips for making sure your point gets across
Perhaps one of the most undervalued skills for any business person is the ability to communicate effectively through the written — or typed — word.
New Business Filings From The Jan. 5, 2009 Issue Of The WBJ
New businesses started in Central Mass. in October. 2008.