Fitchburg

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The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce released the first Regional Economic Development Plan in 25 years on Monday outlining an extensive economic development strategy focused on unifying the region by improving connectivity, developing the workforce, and attracting visitors.

Haley’s Antiques and Publishing in Athol received a coronavirus impact recovery loan from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp.

Rachel Lopez, president of the Fitchburg human resources outsourcing company Resource Management, has been elected as chair of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the organization announced on Monday.

Worcester Business Journal announced on Tuesday its manufacturing and diversity & inclusion reporter, Monica Benevides, has been promoted to the position of senior staff writer.

Cannabis company Garden Remedies, which runs a dispensary in Marlborough and a cultivation and manufacturing facility in Fitchburg, announced last month it has completed a $1.5-million capital expansion, resulting in a new extraction lab to ultimately increase the company’s ability to produce refined cannabinoid oil.

With business restrictions surrounding the coronavirus now lifted, three business leaders from Fitchburg, Upton and Millbury discuss the special challenges they faced in overcoming the extra hurdle of starting a new business during the pandemic

This five-month investigation by Worcester Business Journal and Worcester Regional Research Bureau dives into how racial discrimination in mortgage lending and home ownership creates neighborhoods of have's and have-not's in Greater Worcester, where educational and economic success is harder to achieve.

Central Massachusetts professionals are taking new jobs and getting promoted at companies like Estate Preservation Law Offices, Avidia Bank, AdCare Hospital and Banjo Health.

Downtown Fitchburg has struggled to attract new growth when so many people are following jobs to more prosperous areas or finding affordable areas elsewhere.