CCC was not placed into receivership, no hospital replaced Nashoba Valley Medical Center, and the results of eight other bold predictions for 2025.
In December 2024, the WBJ Editorial staff made
10 bold predictions for news events to happen in Central Massachusetts throughout the year. We ended up getting half of them correct.
Wrong: The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission will be placed into receivership.
The Massachusetts legislature decided against the inspector general’s recommendation to place the CCC into receivership to fix its myriad of problems and toxic work culture. Instead, lawmakers are finalizing a proposal to overhaul the agency.
Right: No hospital will replace Nashoba Valley Medical Center in the Ayer region.
UMass Memorial Health did break ground on a standalone Groton emergency room in September, to somewhat replace the medical center. Yet, no new hospital appears to be coming to the region anytime soon, especially since the landlord of the former hospital site refused to sell to UMass Memorial.
Wrong: The City of Worcester will reform its inclusionary zoning policy.
Despite blowback from developers and landlords over Worcester’s requirement for affordable housing to be part of new developments, the City Council never seriously looked at reversing its previous decision-making.
Right: No female CEO will be among the highest-paid CEOs in Central Massachusetts.
Following the trend in 2024, none of the 20 highest-paid CEOs in the region were women this year. Of course, that relies on public companies’ filings for their 2024 fiscal years. When they make their filings next year, we’re guessing Athol medical device manufacturer Insulet’s new CEO Ashley McEvoy will crack the top 20.
Wrong: WuXi Biologics will open at its $300-million Worcester facility.
The signature life sciences development in Worcester has encountered a number of snags, ranging from disputes over its power line to a slowdown in the life sciences industry to a federal crackdown on China-based companies. This all turned out to be too much for WuXi, which has yet to open the facility first announced before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Right: International enrollment at Central Massachusetts colleges and universities will fall.
The federal crackdown on immigration hit Clark University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute the hardest this year, as dozens of students had their student visas revoked, at least temporarily. The reported 17% drop nationally in international student applications hit Massachusetts, too, as colleges and universities across the state reported a significant slowdown.
Right: No new Worcester hotels will open in 2025.
Some progress was made on proposed hotels in Washington Square, the Canal District, and near Route 146, but none of them are even close to breaking ground yet.
Wrong: The economic output of Central Massachusetts will spike noticeably.
Despite interest rates dropping by a little and inflation starting to get more in line, the economic output of the region stayed largely flat, at about $52 billion.
Right: Worcester Regional Airport will add at least one more nonstop destination.
American Airlines brought back its direct flight to Philadelphia in July, replacing its nonstop flight to New York City. Delta Air Lines still offers daily service to NYC, so American’s move was a net positive for Worcester flyers.
Wrong: Worcester County will again add biomanufacturing jobs.
Biomanufacturing jobs in Worcester County dropped 6% between 2023 and 2024, according to the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. The county did add more biotechnology research-and-development jobs, but the net impact saw a drop in employment to 5,390.
