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Looking into 2024, it appears more Central Massachusetts business leaders are feeling positive about the economy than they have in the recent past.

Let’s face it: We’ve all been shaking off a collective funk since 2020. Heading into 2024, things seem better.

Heywood Healthcare and its general contractor, Consigli Construction, are facing a number of lawsuits over the unfinished work at the $29-million surgical pavilion in Gardner.

Mallory Stanton launched her vintage decor and furniture business – first on Instagram and then with an Etsy store.

Few businesses can withstand the loss of a quarter of their customer bases, and the trend experienced by the local colleges mirrors a national drop in enrollment.

Supporting local and small businesses is crucial to a healthy economy and a symbiotic community. We have the collective power to sustain other businesses in our region, help them offset rising taxes and rental costs, and keep their lights on.

If you’re not burned out by early December, are you even a U.S. professional with a slew of responsibilities outside the office?

Many tax professionals are familiar with cases where clients were aggressively encouraged to apply for the Employee Retention Credit, resulting in false claims and penalties. To address this, the Internal Revenue Service has temporarily halted the program and provided a procedure to withdraw claims without penalties.

Businesses within Massachusetts are eligible to apply. Businesses based in Massachusetts contributing to the state’s unemployment insurance are eligible for workforce training funds.

Today more than ever, the role of the chief diversity and inclusion officer, who sets DEI budgets, metrics, and works to embed strategy and investments linking organizational and financial outcomes, is critical.