Bruce Platzman, AIS president, CEO and co-founder. The company was looking at cheaper locations outside of the area before a tax break helped convince it to stay.

ON THE COVER

Paying for growth: Tax breaks central to Central Mass. economic development

Grant Welker | January 21, 2019 06:00 am

Communities have often used tax deals to help companies in what officials say is the most important tool they can use in economic development.

A for-lease sign is posted along a retail stretch on East Main Street in Webster, part of the town's opportunity zone under a new federal investment program.

Central Mass. officials pushing federal opportunity zones incentive

Grant Welker | January 21, 2019 06:00 am

For neighborhoods in Central Massachusetts overlooked by developers, there's a potential salvation: a new federal tax incentive program.

Focus On Commercial Real Estate

Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant was proactive in getting two large empty office buildings filled, offering tax breaks to Quest Diagnostics and other large companies.

Hits & Misses: For local governments, the potential upside of tax breaks outweighs the risk

Grant Welker

How To

101: Hire better

SUSAN SHALHOUB | January 21, 2019 06:00 am

Here are some expert tips on creating job ads, screening applicants and interviewing candidates, to help ensure whoever you welcome onboard will be the best fit possible – and save you time as...

Use zoning to your development's advantage

MARK A. BORENSTEIN | January 21, 2019 06:00 am

Local zoning ordinances and bylaws are essential to comprehensive municipal planning and are intended to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the public. Yet, they are often times far...

10 Things I Know About ... Retaining staff in the service industry

January 21, 2019 06:00 am

Briefing
Shop Talk
Movers & Shakers
Opinion

Forbes moved Valentin Gapontsev from its Russian billionaires list to its American billionaires list after the U.S. Treasury allegedly used the former to label Gapontsev as a Russian oligarch.

IPG CEO sues U.S. Treasury over Russian oligarch list

Zachary Comeau

The Russian-American billionaire founder and chief executive of Oxford-based IPG Photonics is suing the U.S. Department of the Treasury for listing him as a Russian oligarch.

>> Continue Reading

Julia Becker Collins, chief operating officer, Vision Advertising

After slowly taking over more responsibilities from founder Laura DiBenedetto for 2.5 years, Julia Becker Collins in December assumed control at Vision Advertising, two months after it moved from Worcester to Westborough.

>> Continue Reading

Movers & Shakers

Check out who landed new jobs in Central Massachusetts.

>> Continue Reading

Lists

Top NIH grant recipients in Central Mass.

Ranked by FY 2018 total amount funded

Rank	Grant recipient	No. of awards	Total funding
1	UMass Medical School, Worcester	345	$160,982,250
2	Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester	13	$4,680,702
3	Embera Neurotherapeutics Inc., Sudbury	1	$3,762,556

Source: National Institutes of Health

Private ambulance services

Ranked by number of vehicles

Rank	Ambulance service	No. of vehicles	Year founded
1	MedStar Ambulance, Worcester	85	2000
2	Vital EMS & Medical Transport, Worcester	45	2000
3	EasCare Ambulance Service, Worcester	28	1998

Source: Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services, each provider via survey and their websites

Largest meeting facilities

Ranked by maximum banquet accommodation

Rank	Venue	Max. banquet accommodation	No. of meeting rooms
1	Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Princeton	3,000 (outdoor tented events)	8
2	DCU Center, Worcester	2,520	11
3	Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, Marlborough	1,500	23

Source: Each facility via survey and their websites

Highest-paid state employees

Ranked by total earnings calendar year 2018

Rank	Employee	Organization	Total compensation
1	Michael F. Collins, MD	UMass Medical School	$1,069,752
2	Terence R. Flotte, MD	UMass Medical School	$946,537
3	James Glasheen	UMass Medical School	$671,268