North County

Unemployment in Central Massachusetts dropped sharply in March and is down from March of last year, the Patrick administration said today.

HealthAlliance Hospital is planning to lay off the equivalent of 6.5 full-time nursing and support staff positions at its Burbank Campus in Fitchburg, according to hospital officials.

David McKeehan, the only president and CEO in the 30-year-history of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, will retire at the end of the year, the Fitchburg-based organization announced today.

HealthAlliance Hospital of Leominster has laid off four employees, and executives are evaluating the need to cut for more, according to Interim President Michael Cofone.

A retail complex in Townsend has been purchased by a Miami-based real estate investment group for $6.25 million.

Campanelli Construction of Braintree has been selected to renovate the future home of O'Reilly Auto Parts in Devens.

Unemployment in Central Massachusetts fell markedly in February and is down from February of last year, the Patrick administration said today.

Medical device manufacturer Arrhythmia Research Technology of Fitchburg drastically lowered its losses in the last quarter of 2013 and for all of the year and expects to return to profitability in 2014, the company said.

Electronics manufacturing services firm Jabil Circuit Inc., the parent company of Clinton-based Nypro Inc., posted a second-quarter loss as revenue declined and restructuring costs impacted the bottom line.

Devens-based wind energy equipment manufacturer AMSC laid off an unspecified number of employees at its headquarters today as part of a restructuring that will include the closing of a plant in Wisconsin and the opening of a new one in Romania.