Diversity & Inclusion

Despite being competitors in Central Massachusetts’ highly saturated cannabis industry, two local social equity cannabis companies are teaming up to launch a new line of pre-rolled joints. 

United Way of Tri-County has named Liz Leonard as director of WHEAT Community Connections, a program within the Framingham-based community support nonprofit. 

Four Central Massachusetts organizations working to afford individuals with disabilities job training, workforce placement, and post-placement support are amongst nine awardees statewide receiving $900,000 in grants.

Browning the Green Space is seeking entrepreneurs of color throughout the Northeast looking to launch and grow clean energy contracting businesses for its Accelerating Contractors of Color in Energy for Sustainable Success program.

For the second year in a row, Worcester will host the New England African Business Expo, an event aiming to provide Black and African entrepreneurs with the education and tools needed to start and maintain a successful business. 

With the theme of launch, grow and thrive, the Latin American Business Organization’s seventh annual Latin American Business Expo will be held Saturday to highlight the efforts of Latinos, women, and minority-owned businesses. 

Current rules require two employees to be in any vehicle that is transporting cannabis, but commissioners voted in December three to one to approve a change to eliminate that requirement. Business owners are waiting for the commission to formally rewrite and approve the regulations, a process that has taken four months.

The City of Worcester is now offering $5,000 grants to women and minority-owned businesses through its newly launched Diverse Business Certification Grant Program. 

Worcester area residents can look forward to yet another year of fare-free bus rides as the Worcester Regional Transit Authority board voted to extend the gratuitous service for the fifth consecutive year. 

Two Worcester Polytechnic Institute professors are amongst 10 project awardees receiving $2.8 million in grants from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to support their research advancing women’s health outcomes.