Leominster

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.

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

People are on the move at Fidelity Bank, Kelleher & Sadowsky Associates, and Milford Regional Physician Group.

.About a year ago, Fidelity Bank Chairman and CEO Edward Manzi began working on a deal with Matt Burke, his counterpart at Hyannis-based bank Cape Cod 5.

Rise and Grind Cafe and Smoothie Bar at 805 Main St. in Fitchburg received two loans of $32,500 from the City of Fitchburg and $32,000 from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. in Fitchburg.

UMass Memorial Health, the largest healthcare provider in Central Massachusetts, has signed a non-binding letter of intent to explore a potential affiliation with one of the region’s few remaining independent hospitals, Milford Regional Medical Center and its Milford Regional Physician Group 

The parent companies of Fidelity Bank of Leominster and Cape Cod 5 in Hyannis have agreed to merge into a single holding company called Mutual Bancorp.

Advocates working to prevent UMass Memorial Health from closing its birthing unit at HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital in Leominster are doubling down their efforts in the last days before the planned closure, attempting to persuade Gov. Maura Healey to issue a stay to keep it open.

Home sales in Worcester County and throughout Massachusetts continue to be sharply down from 2022, while prices remain consistently higher, sharply so in the city of Worcester.

After adjusting its plans to regulators’ concerns, UMass Memorial Health intends to go forward with its plan to close the inpatient maternity unit at HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital in Leominster.