Leominster

While the economy was growing into the longest economic expansion in the nation’s history, most Worcester County neighborhoods missed out – not only failing to capture rising income and attracting new residents but even going backward in many cases.

Girouard Tool Corp., a Leominster injection molding company, was approved Thursday by the state for tax breaks to help make possible a $2.8-million expansion, and a Fitchburg restaurant has received a tax credit to move downtown.

A retail plaza on Route 12 just south of downtown Leominster has been bought by a Paxton resident for just under $2.4 million.

Unemployment rates in July improved in Greater Worcester and Northern Worcester County, but each remained among the nation's worst, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Wednesday.

The North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. has received $946,000 in federal aid to help small businesses suffering during the coronavirus pandemic.

An unusually large share of coronavirus deaths in Worcester County — nearly four out of five — have taken place in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, according to state data.

After a small spike in confirmed Worcester County coronavirus cases at the end of July and the start of August, the number of positive tests is again on the decline, falling for the last two weeks.

Rye & Thyme, an upscale comfort food restaurant stationed in the heart of Leominster’s downtown, will not reopen following a closure began in March due to the coronavirus, Niche Hospitality Group of Worcester announced. Instead, it will be replaced by the third location of The Fix Burger Bar, as soon as this fall.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced Central Massachusetts business to take on new roles in preventing further spread of the disease, including enforcing mask-wearing in public and – at times – turning away would-be revenue-generating customers who don’t abide by the mandate.

In a normal season, the Worcester Bravehearts gear the team toward baseball fans, who’ve made the Bravehearts a perennial top draw nationally among collegiate summer teams.