Greater Worcester

Unemployment in Central Massachusetts jumped significantly in January but is down from January of last year, the Patrick administration said today.

A national restaurant chain specializing in noodles from around the globe, as well as sandwiches, salads and soups, is expanding into Massachusetts and New Hampshire, beginning at White City Shopping Center in Shrewsbury, the chain, Noodles & Co., announced.

The Worcester Business Development Corp. said two companies establishing operations in Central Massachusetts have taken out nearly $1.8 million in loans from the agency.

For the second time in less than three months, UMass Memorial Health Care has received a credit downgrade by Moody's Investors Service. Moody's cited ongoing challenges in UMass's core operations, including declining admission volumes and “constrained” revenue growth, as reasons for the downgrade.

Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) will receive a $500,000 grant for their engineering, science and technology center, the school announced.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will receive $2.1 million over the next two years to develop more effective and durable army vehicles and systems.

Three community development organizations in Central Massachusetts received a combined $330,000 to increase economic opportunities for low- and middle-income households, the Patrick administration announced today.

The Higgins Armory Museum was officially placed on the market Monday, more than two months after the historic knightly armor museum in Worcester closed its doors.

Commerce Bank said it and Habitat for Humanity—MetroWest/Greater Worcester have been awarded a $50,000 grant by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston that will help fund the rehabilitation of a single-family home in Auburn.

Although it finished 2013 with an operating loss, Fallon Health reported net income of $13.2 million last year, thanks to nearly $16 million in investments and other income, the Worcester-based health care services organization said.