North County

Fitchburg State University will no longer charge an application fee for its undergraduate programs, the school announced on Monday.

The Gov. Charlie Baker Administration announced this fall 13 Central Massachusetts communities would split $1.25 million in Shared Streets and Spaces emergency grants, in order to make roads more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly, part of $10 million handed out statewide.

Proposed housing developments in Auburn, Fitchburg, Southbridge and Worcester have received a share of $106 million in state funding announced Wednesday to help support the creation of new affordable housing.

Charles Park Plaza, a shopping center at Airport and Bemis roads in Fitchburg, has sold for just under $1.7 million.

Elev8 Cannabis opened the first of its three Massachusetts dispensary locations in Athol on Oct. 8. Its owner and founder, Seun Adedeji, also operates a dispensary in Oregon, with another forthcoming in Illinois.

Enrollment at public colleges in Central Massachusetts has dropped substantially, including by more than 10% at Framingham State University and Mount Wachusett Community College, a trend echoed statewide as higher education has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic.

Rick Walton, owner of Moon Hill Brewing Co. in Gardner, has received a $50,000 Economic Recovery Fund loan from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp., the financing arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, the chamber announced on Monday.

People are on the move at UMass Medical School, Bay State Savings Bank, Greater Worcester Community Foundation and more.

Leominster commercial office furniture manufacturer AIS will provide facemasks to every poll worker needing one on Election Day, covering needs for up to 351 cities and towns in the state, the company announced on Tuesday.

Specialty paper and packaging manufacturer Seaman Paper in Gardner has launched a new paper alternative to single-use plastic poly bags, under the new brand name Vela, the company announced on Tuesday.