Blackstone Valley

It's no secret that 2020 was a historic year. From the coronavirus pandemic, to a rapidly fluctuating economy, and even a presidential election, there were no shortage of significant news stories. Here are WBJ's top 10 most read stories of the year.

Sutton's UN1F1ED² Global Packaging Group has paid millions to expand its footprint for the second time in less than two months.

Vaillancourt Folk Art in Sutton, founded by Gary and Judi Vaillancourt, produces chalkware and decorative ornaments featured in higher-end retailers like Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.

The property housing a nursing care facility in Northbridge has sold for more than $5.8 million to a Wellesley investor, who also bought the nursing home for an undisclosed sum.

A Florida self-storage investment firm has paid more than $15 million for two storage properties in Northborough and another in Uxbridge.

People are on the move at Elevate Counseling Services, Anna Maria College, Open Sky Community Services and more.

The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor's visitors centers in Worcester and Whitinsville are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. But park leaders and partners are ensuring there's still available activities, particularly for those with mobility issues.

After announcing in August that a quarter of the 1.8-million-square-foot Draper Mill in Hopedale would be demolished to make the site more amenable to new development, the owner of the historic centerpiece of the town said Tuesday the facility now will be entirely torn down.

Riverdale Mills Corp., a welded wire mesh manufacturer in Northbridge, was awarded the John McArthur Community Commerce Innovation Award from the Venly Institute in Cambridge, the company announced Nov. 24.

Two Central Mass. companies have received nearly $800,000 in grant funding from the Industrial Rail Access Program, which aims to enhance rail and freight access, the Gov. Charlie Baker administration announced on Nov 19.