North County

Economy

Local unemployment rates drop to 3.6%, 3.3%, and 2.5% across Central Mass.

The September unemployment rates in the Central Massachusetts metropolitan areas surrounding Worcester, Framingham, and Leominster-Gardner all dropped.

Real Estate

Maugel DeStefano principals to lead firm as president to step down after 30 years

In January, Brent Maugel will step down as president of Maugel DeStefano Architects in Harvard. Jonathan Cocker, Mike Kunz, and Mark Pelletier will lead the firm as a team.

Government & Politics

Seven Central Mass. organizations receive $760K to support small businesses

The Massachusetts Growth Capital Corp., a Boston-based quasi-public corporation, awarded $759,687 to Central Massachusetts chambers of commerce, development corporations, and micro-lenders.

Real Estate

Strickland family sells Ayer moving company after 72 years, unloads building for $3M

Ayer Moving and Storage, a family-owned company since 1951, has sold its business to Platt Builders Inc. of Groton.

Education

Growing MWCC automotive program adds two professors

Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner has added two master technician professors to its automotive technology program.

Health Care

UMass Memorial union nurses secure raises of up to 19.5%

The Massachusetts Nurses Association union has ratified new contracts for 2,770 of its nurses at Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health's facilities in the past four months.

Banking & Finance

Brazil native receives $20K to grow Fitchburg alternative health business

Magic Treasures, a Fitchburg-based business focused on alternative health care, received a $10,000 loan from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. of Fitchburg.

Health Care