Framingham

Framingham-based TJX Cos. saw net income for fiscal 2014 increase 15 percent from the prior year, though it declined in the fourth quarter, yielding earnings of 81 cents per share, compared with 82 cents a year ago.

Four life science companies in Central Massachusetts received a combined $1.54 million in tax incentives to create 87 jobs in 2014, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) announced Wednesday.

Framingham-based Gulf Electricity announced Wednesday it will expand its consumer and small business electric service to the five boroughs of New York City and Westchester County.

Three Westborough apartment buildings, known collectively as the Fountainhead Apartments, were sold for $83.75 million, according to records held by the Worcester County Registry of Deeds.

A MetroWest community health initiative has secured a $75,000 grant in its efforts to encourage healthier eating and active living, according to the office of State Sen. Karen Spilka.

Larger salaries may be hard to come by in a tight job market th favors employers, but the MetroWest region continued to enjoy significant payroll growth that out performed Suffolk County and the nation, according to federal data included in the 495/MetroWest Partnership's new report, Strength in Numbers. The partnership reported total payroll increased by $2 billion, to $19 billion, between 2010 and 2012, a jump of more than 10 percent. The organization, a quasi-public regional development agency that covers 33 communities stretching from Littleton to Foxborough and from Shrewsbury to Natick, measured growth using data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the figures show that the partnership's geographic coverage area performed better than Suffolk County as well as the nation. According to BLS data, the Boston area's payroll grew 9.5 percent in the same time period, while U.S. payroll grew 8.4 percent.

Framingham-based Ameresco was awarded a $15.7 million contract Friday by New Mexico State University to improve energy efficiency in 46 of its buildings.

When the average person thinks of Staples Inc., retail stores come to mind. But a major revenue component for the Framingham-based office supply company is its business-to-business contract operations, which accounted for $7 billion in sales in 2012, while the company's retail and online businesses generated a combined $12 billion. A recent change in leadership underscores the importance the company places on developing new contract business in Australia and New Zealand, as well as new markets Staples has yet to crack, according to Scott Tilghman, a Boston-based analyst who follows the company.

Staples announced changes to its executive team Thursday.

Danforth Art will sign the final closing documents today for its move to Framingham's historic Jonathan Maynard Building.