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June 26, 2023
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Midyear Economic Update

Rough start: Midyear survey reveals WBJ readers are increasingly pessimistic about 2023

Brad Kane

At the end of 2022, WBJ readers were more pessimistic about the future of the Central Massachusetts economy than they had been at any point in the previous 10 years. The first five months of this year only made them more pessimistic.

  • Shop Talk
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    Shop Talk

    Q&A: Leicester curiosity shop delights in the whimsical, witchy, and retro

    Vintage Rebel Curiosity Shop in Leicester refers to itself as “We’re one of those ‘don't know you need it until you see it’ kind of stores.”

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    Developer seeks $250M demolition, renovation, expansion of Oxford affordable housing complex

    Timothy Doyle

    Boston developer Trinity Financial proposed a complete redevelopment of its New Orchard Hills Estates affordable housing complex in Oxford.

  • Advice
    Advice

    101: Motivating top performers

    Susan Shalhoub

    Top performers tend to fall into the background as managerial attention goes to underachievers and new hires. But there needs to be a strategy to energize top performers too, or risk them getting bored, disgruntled, and looking elsewhere

  • Advice
    Advice

    10 Things I know about ... ChatGPT risks

    Michelle Drolet

    Like most tools, large language models (like ChatGPT & Google Bard) can be used for good or ill purposes. Positives: generate creative content, translate languages, and debug software. Negatives: They can be used to damage reputations, spread misinformation, code malware, and conduct cyberattacks.

  • Advice
    Advice

    How to work with a public relations firm

    David A. Ball

    How you approach the task of engaging a public relations firm will likely determine the success of a PR campaign.

  • Opinion
    Opinion

    Viewpoint: Health inequities are a $6B economic problem

    Audrey Shelto

    The first question for health foundations: What is causing racial disparities and inequities in health?

  • Editorial
    Editorial

    Editorial: We’re not out of the woods yet

    Despite the many headwinds - like the war in Ukraine and a steep rise in interest rates – unemployment remains incredibly low, and businesses are still hiring as they look to fill key positions and meet persistent demand.

  • Opinion
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    Opinion

    A Thousand Words: Clark's anonymous donation

    Ramón L. Sandoval

    Clark University received a $1 million anonymous donation for a new honors program, which is launching a pilot in the fall semester.

  • Editorial
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    Editorial

    From the Editor: Everything is going to be ok

    Brad Kane

    WBJ decided to publish a Midyear Economic Update on the local business community, to see how all the major events so far in 2023 impacted people’s feelings about the rest of this year.

  • Movers & Shakers
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    Movers & Shakers

    Movers & Shakers for June 26, 2023

    People are on the move at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Cornerstone Bank, and Thrive Support & Advocacy.

WBJ Web Partners

Today's Poll

How would you grade Gov. Maura Healey’s support of Central Massachusetts businesses in her tenure thus far?
Poll Description

More than one year has passed since Gov. Maura Healey was sworn in as the 73rd governor of Massachusetts. Since then, Healey has spoken extensively about her commitment to attracting, retaining, and growing business in the state. To accomplish that goal, Healey and her administration have proposed and enacted several initiatives, including granting Central Massachusetts manufacturing businesses $600,000, allocating $458,000 to businesses training the disabled workforce, and most notably, filing the $3.5-billion Mass Leads Act aimed at bolstering the state’s life sciences, climatetech, and applied artificial intelligence industries. 

At the same time, the Central Massachusetts Business Confidence Index dropped to 45.9 in April, the second lowest score in the index's history, reflecting declined views regarding the region's economic outlook.

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