April 3, 2023Edition

Obstacles like high interest rates and a lack of inventory get in the way of buying a home.

In 2016, Hernandez opened GEM Marketing Solutions and has solidified a stable roster of clients in and around the city. Her small business offers help with getting businesses an online presence, website design, and social media marketing.

Both domestic and international economic conditions continue to show cause for concern, with the rippling effects of two major bank closures still visible, and uncertainties about inflation and our ability to sidestep a recession remain top of mind. Yet, certain business sectors still provide cause for optimism, and in Central Massachusetts, there’s much to like about the staying power of the manufacturing industry.

Forty years ago, the U.S. was a global leader in manufacturing semiconductors and microelectronics. We not only invented the technology, we invested in research and produced 40% of the world’s chips. Today, the U.S. makes just 10%.

It is no longer an added benefit to have and sustain a diverse workforce; it is a necessity in our ever-growing, ever changing national and global economy.

Employees are on the move at Akoya Biosciences, Milford Regional Medical Center, and MutualOne Bank, with new hires joining operations and promotions happening within organizations.

In this first of a two-part 101, we look at the advantages and disadvantages of using consultants in your company on a contractual basis.

It may be every small business owner’s dream: attract the attention of a major company and get acquired for millions of dollars. But before too many dollar signs start dancing in owners’ heads, they need to take some critical steps, or else their business dreams could easily turn into nightmares.

I am often contacted by aggrieved homeowners, who have retained a home improvement contractor and find themselves in a difficult situation: Project deadlines have past, costs have soared, and phone calls are unanswered.

Groton Hill is the largest arts and culture nonprofit in Central Massachusetts, with more than $181 million in assets, according to its 2021 filing with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

As the Southeast Asian Coalition settles into new digs, its executive director arrives with big ambitions for its role in the community.

With this April 3 edition, we arrive at another set of awards, the third of five WBJ will publish this year. The Manufacturing Excellence Awards remains our only sector-specific award and honors accomplishments in one of the foundational industries in Central Mass.

The Garbose Building at 2-10 Parker St. in downtown Gardner has been acquired for redevelopment by Candor Realty of Lowell, the latest in a series of investments in Gardner’s downtown.