North County

Lighthouse Biz Solutions LLC, the Gardner firm providing financial services for the cannabis industry, has partnered with Tel-Affinity Corp. to help Lighthouse’s clients navigate the rising cost of utilities.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts awarded $4.3 million in Skills Capital Grants to technical high schools in Fitchburg, Marlborough, and Worcester to improve facilities.

Gardner manufacturer Precision Optics Corp. anticipates the process of listing its shares on the Nasdaq stock exchange to be completed in the coming weeks.

Seaman Paper Co. in Gardner has partnered with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida, and Italian organization, One Ocean Foundation to fund research and conservation efforts.

Eastham’s Hometown Financial Group, Inc., parent company of Oxford’s bankHometown, and Randolph Bancorp, Inc. of Quincy have received regulatory approval for their proposed merger and announced Tuesday a target date of Oct. 7 for closing.

MassHire Central Region Workforce Board has signed a 10-year lease on a new 6,500-square-foot space in the Southbridge Innovation Center, according to a Monday press release by Southbridge Associates, which owns and operates the 1.2-million-square-foot business park.

Fitchburg State University announced on Monday it is launching a new bachelor’s degree program in digital media innovation.

Family-owned Worcester butcher and grocer D'Errico's Market has closed its Cambridge Street location after almost two years, according to the company's Facebook page.

Rockland Trust has provided $29 million in financing to Waterstone Properties Group of Needham, for the construction of a surgical pavilion expansion at Heywood Hospital in Gardner.

Fitchburg and Leominster single family home sales rose 18% year-over-year in August, following a 21% climb in July year-over-year.