Becker College

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The year has been one of recovery and resilience for schools like Clark University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Meanwhile, Becker College’s closure served as a stark reminder of the fate many smaller institutions may be facing. 

Three days after announcing the acquisition of a seven-acre lot on Park Avenue, Clark University in Worcester announced on Wednesday it is working to secure $100 million in financing to fund a number of facility upgrades and new projects.

Becker College, which announced its closure in March, has sold the majority of its Worcester campus to local developer Russ Haims, returning more than $15 million in assessed property value to Worcester's tax rolls.

Worcester real estate firm Hampton Properties LLC, which finalized the purchase of more than 25 of Becker College’s former properties last week, sold a large property on Woodland Street in Worcester for $2.1 million, according to the Worcester South District Registry of Deeds.

The City of Worcester plans to purchase three properties from the now closed Becker College for $4.6 million and will ask City Council for a loan early next week, said City Manager Edward Augustus.

The Town of Leicester has entered into an agreement with former Becker College and has the option for full acquisition of its Leicester campus for $17.8 million, said Assistant Town Administrator Kristen Forsberg.

When Becker College in Worcester announced it will be closing its doors in August, the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute had a big question to answer. The statewide center for video game entrepreneurship, known as MassDiGi, had been based at the college since its start a decade ago. Where would it go now?

Worcester Polytechnic Institute will take over the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute after Becker College, MassDiGI's host, closes following the end of the spring semester.

Colleges in Central Massachusetts are due to receive an estimated $100 million among them under the latest federal pandemic aid program.