Worcester

This sale represents AAM 15’s first hotel purchase in Central Massachusetts.

The former Hope Lodge at 7 Oak St. in Worcester is set to see a new life as student housing, following a $950,000-purchase by an Oxford-based firm.

Franchi Brothers first opened for business in 1936 and is in its third generation of family ownership.

Central Massachusetts’ unemployment rates continued their upward trajectory in November for the second consecutive month after the region had begun to rebound from its year-long high in July.  

Adult hospital readmission rates in Central Massachusetts came in just below the state’s average in 2023.

Three Central Massachusetts universities have been awarded a share of $14 million in state funding to boost graduation rates for historically underserved students. 

In December 2023, the WBJ Editorial staff made 10 bold predictions for news events to happen in Central Massachusetts throughout the year. Turns out, we missed the mark on all but two.

Every December for this Economic Forecast special edition, the journalists in the WBJ newsroom forecast 10 possible news events for the coming year, based on their expertise and the trends in the Central Massachusetts business community.

The Worcester Memorial Auditorium, colloquially known as the Aud, has sat vacant for the past 25 years.

Converting big-box retail spaces has become increasingly necessary as digital retail impacts demand.