North County

Rodney Hunt, an Orange-based manufacturer of metal gates first founded in 1840, is set to expand its presence in the town.

The Orchard Hills Athletic Club in Lancaster and its associated real estate has been sold, as the new owner plans to continue the operations of the club first opened in the 1980s.

A months-long WBJ investigation shows how a dysfunctional agency hollowed out by turnover, bogged down by infighting, and plagued by a fuzzy leadership structure is impeding businesses in a struggling industry.

WBJ sources over the past 35 years have contributed memorable sentiments.

As the biomanufacturing sector continues to expand into a wide range of applications, billions of dollars are being spent on biomedical research, targeting diseases and improving patient outcomes with technology.

The coming years aren’t just about attracting laboratory and white-collar workers. More opportunities and training options will be needed for the region’s immigrant and lower-income populations to thrive.

While the prospect of commercial nuclear fusion energy in just 10 years may seem ambitious, one Devens-based company is working to make it a reality.

In 2016, 53.6% of Massachusetts voters cast a ballot in favor of legalizing marijuana like alcohol, kicking off the creation of an industry that has so far led to more than $6 billion in sales.

Central Massachusetts is a region that likes to wax nostalgic about bustling main streets and tight-knit mill communities. A lot has changed over the decades, with shifts in the way people do their shopping, the decline of traditional manufacturing, and the rise in tech industries. And our communities have shifted with the times.

The U.S. military base known as Fort Devens closed in 1996, jettisoning more than 7,000 local military and civilian jobs.