Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce

The philanthropic arm of Worcester-based The Hanover Insurance Group has doled out more than $100,000 to local organizations, the company announced Thursday.

With Worcester set to lose more than 460 manufacturing jobs in a three-year span, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce is once again calling for the City Council to reduce the burden on commercial taxpayers.

A Worcester city councilor is now asking city officials to hold off on implementation of Board of Health regulations that would restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products to adult-only establishments.

Worcester officials and business leaders are scheduled this week for several meetings aimed at bringing the Pawtucket Red Sox to the city.

At the beginning of next year, Worcester will become the 110th municipality in Massachusetts to enact some type of flavored tobacco ban after the city Board of Health voted to adopt regulations prohibiting the sale of the products in convenience stores.

The Worcester City Council is considering placing a ballot question in November to ask city residents to adopt the Community Preservation Act, but at least the city's main business group is hesitant to sign on to a proposal to increase taxes.

With a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and other local business groups and public officials will create a regional approach to economic development.

Banning a convenience store from selling flavored tobacco products to a 21-year-old adult while that same adult can purchase flavored alcohol at a liquor store would create a disparate retail environment, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce said in a letter to the Board of Health.

American Airlines will become the third airline to fly commercial out of Worcester Regional Airport when it launches its daily service to Philadelphia International Airport in October.

Two successful restaurants launched at 166 Shrewsbury St. Now, the space is devoid of any human life, and it will remain that way until the government sells the building.