Retail

Worcester has received $15,000 towards helping emerging food entrepreneurs and small food retailers, and thus area unemployment, according to the Worcester Community Action Council (WCAC).

The nation's employment picture in October improved slightly over September as the unemployment rate dropped from 5.1 to 5 percent, and the country added 271,000 positions, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday.

Westborough information-technology consultant Virtusa Corp. announced Thursday its plan to pay $270 million for a majority interest in an India IT company that serves the banking industry.

Big Y Foods will hire 20 part-time workers for its newly remodeled World Class Market at 100 Mayfield St.

The Massachusetts Office of Housing and Economic Development on Wednesday announced a $2.7-million MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant to pay for streetscape improvements on the outskirts of downtown.

A week after being named the most energy efficient state in the country, Massachusetts took an additional step Monday to set ambitious, nation-leading energy efficiency goals for the next three years.

The Framingham-based TJX Cos. has completed its acquisition of Australian retailer Trade Secret for approximately $58.5 million, TJX announced over the weekend.

The hoopla surrounding this month's announcement of a $33-million, high-end luxury hotel for downtown Worcester may seem a bit overhyped, but given the step-by-step nature of economic revitalization, business and city officials have the right to be excited to get another important piece of the puzzle in place and can't be faulted for shouting their successes from the rooftops.

In one fell swoop, a 168-room hotel has done something that years of development efforts have been striving for: align Worcester's downtown with the words luxury, premiere and high-end.

The first step has been taken by Simon Property Group to demolish Macy's Home Store and add a cinema and restaurant to the Auburn Mall.