Greater Worcester

Unemployment held steady or decreased in August throughout Central Massachusetts as the region experiences vacillating employment trajectories that change direction on a monthly basis.

The City of Worcester is offering grants of up to $25,000 for certified minority- and woman-owned businesses to help expand their capacity for contracting opportunities.

Framingham State University’s STEM, students, faculty, and academic programs just received a major boost in funding as a former university professor and his wife have pledged more than $2 million to the Central Massachusetts school.

The unemployment rate in Massachusetts remained unchanged in August for the fourth month in a row while still higher than the nation’s average for the ninth consecutive month. 

After a major personal loss reignited his dream of owning a barbecue business, Jordan El-Qasem launched the HaBBQ (pronounced ha-bibi-cue) food truck in March.

Central Massachusetts professionals are being hired at organizations including bankHometown, Consigli Construction, and Cornerstone Bank.

Law enforcement and some municipal voices have called for strict regulations for consumption sites. But advocates warn overregulating these businesses will make them stiff and sterile, killing their viability and leaving social equity participants out in the cold

Realizing federal cuts will impede nonprofits’ ability to respond in time of crisis, the United Way of Central Massachusetts launched the United Response Fund in August.

Workdays missed due to menopause symptoms added up to another $1.8-billion annual loss.

Equity work has never been easy, and its often uphill battle has been compounded by the President Donald Trump Administration’s crusade to uproot DEI.