Leominster

The three Central Massachusetts metropolitan areas tracked by the state all saw slight increases in their unemployment rates in December.

Now the residential real estate market has slowed, Richard Healey of Foster-Healey Real Estate Inc. hopes to see it settle down again and level out.

With new building codes on the horizon, battles will be fought in the name of progress, as developers and various interest groups are hesitant to make sweeping changes.

Rollstone Bank and Trust of Fitchburg has appointed Tony Rakic as executive vice president and chief lending officer, replacing Michael Olson, who is retiring after 17 years with the bank.

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. in Fitchburg loaned $100,000 loan to MK Dance Center in Leominster. The owners will use the funds to renovate and build out their new space at Gateway Business Center at 435 Lancaster St.

An industrial building at 154 Pioneer Drive in Leominster was sold on Friday to an entity affiliated with US Chemical Solutions LLC of Wyoming for $4.5 million.

WBJ’s Best of Business awards are centered around one idea: referrals.

Months after Heywood Healthcare, one of the few Central Massachusetts independent community healthcare systems, entered formal non-binding discussions to affiliate with UMass Memorial Health of Worcester, the merger has been called off.

The settlement resolves claims that Aspen Dental used a series of bait-and-switch tactics on thousands of Massachusetts consumers, according to a Thursday release from the attorney general. 

Lowell-based grocery store chain Market Basket will open its new Shrewsbury location on Friday, Jan. 13.