Gardner

After a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana was approved by Massachusetts voters in the 2012 election, finding a bank that was willing to provide services to a cannabis business was a bit like trying to buy marijuana before it was legal.

Republicans will soon hold one-tenth of the seats in the Massachusetts Senate after Peter Durant of Spencer defeated Democrat Jonathan Zlotnik.

S&F Concrete Contractors, a corporation based in Hudson, is suing a number of local companies over claims of unpaid work.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development awarded $164 million through 338 grants for economic development projects around the state, including 55 in Central Mass.

Garlock Printing and Converting has rebranded itself as Garlock Flexibles and sold its 77 Industrial Rowe location in Gardner for $9.6 million to a Pennsylvania investment firm in a sale-leaseback deal.

The unemployment rate across Central Massachusetts remained low through September, continuing a downward trend carried over from the summer months.

Goguen Transportation, a shipping and trucking company based in Gardner, has been fined $116,459 by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for an oil spill that damaged protected wetlands.

Precision Optics Corp. in Gardner, an optical instrument manufacturer for the medical and aerospace industries, has received a third large production order from an aerospace defense company. The new order totals $680,000, and the products are intended to be produced in fiscal year 2024.

Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner received a $2,249,709 grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Title III - Strengthening Institutions Program to help improve academic readiness and workforce preparation for students.

The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts in Worcester has provided a total of $1,063,451 to 10 community nonprofits working to address broad health issues.