Greater Worcester

<i>This year, the Worcester Business Journal marks its 25th anniversary. In each print and online edition, we will highlight a major event in the Central Massachusetts business community between 1990 and 2014, and explore how that event impacts today's business scene. Later this year, on Oct. 13, we'll publish a special 25th Anniversary commemorative edition and look at the region's companies and business leaders who have made a difference over the last quarter-century. We'll also look ahead to what the coming years could bring.</i>

The Massachusetts Health Connector Wednesday announced 15 organizations across the commonwealth, including one in Worcester, will receive grants totaling close to $1.5 million and serve as “navigators”: community-based experts that will help consumers sign up for health care during the upcoming fall enrollment period.

An abandoned factory building in Worcester will be converted into 94 apartments as a result of $17 million in loans to the developer, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency announced Friday.

Reliant Medical Group of Worcester is closing its 11 EasyCare pharmacies within its Central Massachusetts facilities next week after selling the pharmacy operations to CVS, the organizations announced.

A state agency has checked off on UMass Memorial Health Care's sale of Wing Memorial Hospital in Palmer to Baystate Health of Springfield, clearing the way for the transaction.

The Central Massachusetts and Montachusett regional planning commissions are spearheading a “Buy Local” initiative to boost the sale of the area's agricultural and food products, the Central Massachusetts commission announced Monday.

An affiliate of a Quincy-based property management firm has received $4.2 million in acquisition financing to buy Worcester's Park Plaza Apartments, according to CBRE New England, which helped secure the deal.

Reliant Medical Group of Worcester and Southboro Medical Group are looking to merge, potentially creating an organization of more than 300 physicians that would serve about 300,000 patients throughout Central Massachusetts, the organizations announced Tuesday.

Driven by solid gains in the labor market, the Worcester area economy continued to grow at a strong pace during the second quarter of 2014, according to the latest Worcester Economic Index (WEI).

Worcester-based energy management services firm World Energy Solutions reported increased revenue and earnings for the second quarter, the company said today.