Gardner

Plans are moving forward for Heywood Healthcare of Gardner to open an in-patient facility providing detox and behavioral care services at the Sisters of Assumption property in Petersham.

With one Midwestern hospital now operating off the grid, energy independence appears within reach for hospitals. Find out about the local push for renewables in our April 13 print article.

Wind power has always had a blustery outlook in Massachusetts. With a dense population and lower wind speeds compared with flat-plain states, the Bay State was never going to become the Wind Farm State.

Like many communities, Gardner was once a thriving manufacturing city that struggled after losing much of that old manufacturing base. Today, the city's economic base includes a mix of small businesses and manufacturers that are expected to boost manufacturing employment in the "Chair City."

The board of directors for the Workers' Credit Union approved a payout of more than $2.5 million to members as a result of the credit union's performance in 2014, according to a news release Wednesday from the credit union.

Four public institutions of higher education in Central Massachusetts are collaborating to guarantee qualifying students four years of post-secondary schooling for $30,000.

In a back room of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, teams work at cataloging and digitizing the organization's collection of American printed artifacts. It's just one example of a group of Central Massachusetts nonprofits that use business ventures to round out grant and foundational funds as part of their revenue mix.

Biomedical firm New England Peptide (NEP) will expand its Gardner facility to create additional research and production space, the company announced Tuesday.

Optical instruments maker Precision Optics of Gardner reported a 3-percent year-over-year drop in revenue for its most recently competed quarter, but cited increased interest in the company's products.

It's our annual look at three business executives in Central Massachusetts - and one organization - that have made big differences. This year's honorees come from four distinct industries. Here are their stories.