North County

The recession has erased roughly 24 years of job growth in the Worcester area. Some neighborhoods, particularly in Worcester and Fitchburg have been hit especially hard, with unemployment rates estimated at 30% or more.

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.

A 7.5-acre trash and recycling facility in Fitchburg has sold to a waste-to-energy company with a facility in Millbury.

The Colonial Hotel in Gardner allegedly held two events last weekend exceeding Massachusetts state guidelines meant to keep people safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

After imposing a cumulative $800,000 in fines last month, the Cannabis Control Commission slapped a $120,000 fine Thursday on a cultivator and manufacturer that sold vaporizer cartridges that exceeded allowed state limits for ethanol to marijuana retailers and dispensaries in late 2018 and early 2019.

Energy technology company AMSC of Ayer reported increased revenues of $21.2 million for the company’s first quarter of fiscal 2020, according to an earnings report released Wednesday, even as its net loss remained steady at $3.4 million.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, announced Wednesday it has provided a $4.5-million loan for the continued redevelopment of Pepperell Place.

A 58-unit affordable living facility has opened in Devens to seniors 62 and up.

MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources announced last week financing is now available for funding energy improvements on commercial, industrial and multi-family buildings, as well as buildings owned by nonprofits. 

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.