Monica Benevides

Hospitality

L.L. Bean announces new store at Shoppes at Blackstone Valley

L.L. Bean is planning to open a shop in the Shoppes at Blackstone Valley in Millbury, the famed Maine retailer announced on Thursday.

Education

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins endows classics scholarships at Holy Cross

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins is endowing two classics scholarships at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, the school announced Thursday morning.

Diversity & Inclusion

Q&A: Harpoon teams with Brewers Guild to help diversify Mass. beer industry

Mass. Bay Brewing Company Co-founder and President Dan Kenary and Brewers Guild Executive Director Katie Stinchon spoke with WBJ about how Hop Forward evolved from a job fair to a resource center, the website’s goals, and related programming on deck for the coming months.

Government & Politics

Ashland granted $570K for biz community, town improvement projects

The Town of Ashland announced on Monday it has received $564,955 across three grants for various improvement projects ranging from local business development to firefighter safety.

Banking & Finance

St. Mary’s Credit Union names its first woman CEO, effective Oct. 1

St. Mary’s Credit Union, headquartered in Marlborough, has named Larissa Thurston as its next CEO and president,...

Energy

Baker Administration funnels $433K to three new Central Mass. Green Communities

The Gov. Charlie Baker Administration announced on Friday it was allocating $433,381 to three Central Massachusetts towns newly designated as Green Communities under the state’s program.

Banking & Finance

Primerica to acquire senior health insurance distributor for $600M

Primerica, Inc., a Georgia-based financial-services company with several outposts in Central Mass., including Oxford and Millbury, plans to acquire 80% of Florida firm e-TeleQuote Limited, a senior health insurance distributor of Medicare-related insurance policies for $600 million.

Manufacturing Awards: Darcy Cook helped manufacturers stay open and safe

Darcy Cook, president and owner of Safety Trainers, was working as a physical therapist in the late 1990s when her father suggested she help her brothers, two firefighters in Auburn who ran a side business facilitating CPR and first aid training classes.

Manufacturing Awards: Quabbin Wire sees training as a key to employee longevity

Co-founded in 1975 by Paul Engel, who shortly thereafter went on to assume full ownership, Quabbin Wire & Cable Co., Inc. in Ware specializes in producing wires and cables for a wide array of applications.