Greater Worcester

A $90-million luxury apartment complex broke ground on Wednesday amid fanfare from local officials and developers as another piece needed to complete City Square and the redevelopment of downtown Worcester.

The Worcester City Council has authorized City Manager Edward Augustus to create regulations that would limit Airbnb stays to commercially zoned areas and require those offering the service to obtain a business license from the city.

A national survey of small business owners has found that Worcester County is perceived to be among the least friendly areas in the nation for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce has launched a new program in partnership with the Inner City Capital Connections to help businesses growing towards the exit stage.

The Café at deadhorse hill has launched in downtown Worcester, giving those working and visiting the north Main Street section of the city another option for coffee and pastries.

Worcester's EcoTarium has initiated the public phase of a $9.1 million fundraising campaign aimed at adding two new major exhibits and improving the location's infrastructure.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has named Bogdan Vernescu as the school's vice provost for research, putting him in charge of directing the school's research and controlling its intellectual property and innovation.

Worcester-based Allegro MicroSystems LLC has promoted Ravi Vig to the position of president and chief operating officer.

Canton ball bearings company Bearings Specialty Company, Inc., with an office in Worcester, has rebranded itself as BSC Industries.

Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus has proposed a new food truck zone be made at Mercantile Center downtown.