Greater Worcester

Entrepreneurs in the state's Gateway Cities can now apply for up to $2 million in matching grants to support creation of collaborative workspaces that promote innovation, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) announced Wednesday.

Over the next six or seven years, the number of 18- to 24-year-olds in the United States will decline. For colleges and universities, that means a significant challenge, but not an unexpected one.

Among 200 metropolitan areas in the United States, Worcester has the worst drivers, narrowly beating out Boston, Springfield and Providence for the last-place spot, according to a survey by Allstate Insurance.

With less than two weeks to go, local businesses are gearing up for the Central Mass. Business Expo, which is being held in conjunction with Build Northeast Conference & Expo at the DCU Center.

Boost Fitness is moving its Hudson club in the fall to a larger facility in town, the company announced.

A week after pleading guilty to more than a dozen counts of fraud and larceny, the owner of a medical transportation company in Webster has been sentenced to a year and a half in jail and ordered to pay full restitution.for defrauding MassHealth.

Central Massachusetts saw healthy job gains last month among the commonwealth's overall gain of nearly 14,000 jobs in July, data from the Patrick administration revealed Tuesday.

Fresh off a strong quarter, Hanover Insurance Group of Worcester declared a quarterly stock dividend of 37 cents per share to stockholders of record as of the market close on Sept. 12.

Bay State Investment Fund LLC of Worcester has purchased the former Salty Dog building at 1 Kelley Sq. for $1 million, the company said.

July home sales in Worcester dropped at a slightly lower rate than the rest of the Bay State, although the median price was slightly higher, according to Re/Max of New England.