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» Clinton Housing Project Relaunched (posted Today at 11:33am)
A Needham developer is hoping to revive a stalled housing project in Clinton after purchasing the property earlier this summer.
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» UMass: State Economy Grew in Q2 (posted Today at 11:31am)
The Massachusetts economy grew at a 6.4 percent annualized rate in the second quarter of the year, up from 3.1 percent in the first quarter, according to the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute's MassBenchmarks report.
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» Report Outlines State Budget Cuts (posted Today at 11:30am)
Higher education funding has been cut 15 percent and local aid to cities and towns has been cut 34 percent during the last three years of state budget slashing, a new report from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center found.
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» Preschool Gets State Grant (posted Today at 11:28am)
A state grant will allow four toddlers to attend a Worcester preschool free of charge for three years.
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» GDP Growth Slows (posted Today at 11:27am)
The national Gross Domestic Product slowed its growth this quarter from a 3.7 to 2.4 percent annualized increase in the second quarter, according to the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis.
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» AMSC Reports $9.2M Q1 Profit (posted Yesterday at 11:54am)
American Superconductor Corp. of Devens rode its Asian wind turbine manufacturing business to a $9.2 million first quarter profit and a revenue increase of 33 percent compared to the previous year.
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All Fred Guertin is asking for is 500 feet. That’s all he says the runway at Fitchburg Municipal Airport needs to “open a whole new window” and increase traffic at the small regional transportation hub.
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When Kathleen Cooper, a Sturbridge real estate agent with JCKC Realty-Keller Williams, is showing houses to potential home buyers, she doesn’t just show them glossy pictures of homes in magazines.
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Worcester Firm Greases The Wheels Of Manufacturing
In 1929, an entrepreneur named George Johnson recognized a need among the textile manufacturers of southern New England for bearings that could be put to use without lubrication.
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Shop Talk: Q&A With Patty Zillian Eppinger, Ecotarium
Patty Zillian Eppinger, board chair of the Ecotarium, discusses the role of nonprofits and what for-profits can learn from them.
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Contents Of The July 19, 2010 Issue Of The WBJ
Check out the latest issue of the WBJ.
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Events
Tuesday, August 17
Strategic Networking Breakfast
Sponsor: Leading Women Mass.
Time: 8 to 9:30 a.m.
Place: CCR Training Center, 1400 Computer Drive, Westborough
Anne Litwin will discuss research on how women relate to each other at work and what we can do to improve our workplace relationships. Leading Women Mass is also proudly hosting an Accessory Drive to benefit Dress for Success Worcester for attendees.Cost: Members and first-time visitors $30, non-members $45
Contact: Victoria R. Waterman, 401-597-0649, vwaterman@LeadingWomen.biz
Inside the Worcester Business Journal
Regional airports struggle for funding, survival
All Fred Guertin is asking for is 500 feet. That’s all he says the runway at Fitchburg Municipal Airport needs to “open a whole new window” and increase traffic at the small regional transportation hub.
Popular family chain comes to Lancaster
When the Kimball family decided to bring its Westford-based chain of souped-up ice cream stands to Lancaster, it wasn’t because of formal market research or an analysis of the small town’s demographics.
Biomass Plant Emissions Spark Debate
Central Mass. operators say energy source is clean
Just over one year ago Munksjo Paper Co. in Fitchburg closed its factory and laid off 100 workers. There was a glimmer of hope in the announcement, however. The company had plans to build a biomass heat and electricity plant on its site, which would burn wood chips to produce electricity and heat for the factory’s operations. The decrease in energy costs by producing power independently would allow the plant to reopen and possibly hire back its workers.
Local firms adapt how they do business to keep pace with smart phone technology
When Kathleen Cooper, a Sturbridge real estate agent with JCKC Realty-Keller Williams, is showing houses to potential home buyers, she doesn’t just show them glossy pictures of homes in magazines.
Local Web Startup Offers Daily Discounts
Breen brothers bring ‘deal of the day’ concept to Central Massachusetts market
One of the hottest web-based concepts over the past year has been that of the daily discount site, or “deal of the day.” The idea behind these websites is straightforward — visitors can find out what product or service is on sale that day and have the option of purchasing it at the discounted price.
Social Networks Pose Opportunities, Problems
Local firms tread cautiously on sites like Facebook, Twitter
A year ago, Marlborough-based Digital Federal Credit Union struck out into the world of social networking by setting up its own Facebook page.
Cisco Makes Boxborough Head For New Division
When cell phone users download data to browse the web or stream video, a separate network from the one used for traditional phone calls is needed. Cisco, the California-based technology giant, is hoping to position itself as a leader in providing that network infrastructure for data communications.
Who needs a website anyway? I was hoping that I could, through my skills as a reporter, discover that contrary to popular wisdom, not every business needs a website. But, as it turns out, I’m either not a very good reporter (please don’t tell my publisher that) or it is impossible to prove that websites are useless.
Worcester Firm Greases The Wheels Of Manufacturing
Pobco turned maple trees into industrial innovation
In 1929, an entrepreneur named George Johnson recognized a need among the textile manufacturers of southern New England for bearings that could be put to use without lubrication.
10 Things I Know About...Language Translation
10 tips to breaking down the language barrier.
Knowhow: Bankruptcy Alternatives
Advice on what to do if a financial crisis arrives
But is it the best, fastest, or most efficient way to deal with financial uncertainty? Probably not. Before jumping into the deep end of the pool, here are a few steps and alternatives that you may want to consider.
As the economy loosens up, employees may be looking to jump ship. And that could spell disaster for your business, as high turnover can lead to increased training needs as well as lost intelligence. Here are some tips on how to make sure your employees are not tempted to move on.
Movers & Shakers from the July 19, 2010 Issue
The latest hirings and promotions in Central Mass.
Much At Stake For Mass. In Census Results
New England has a lot at stake in the 2010 Census, not just in terms of federal dollars for dozens of programs that support education, housing and health-care services, but also the region’s clout on Capitol Hill.
MCAS Tests Hold Bay State Students Back
I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to the graduating Class of 2010 at all of the private and religious high schools across the state. These graduating seniors are off to the brightest of futures. They will have every opportunity available to them, as they should, after working hard and meeting all of the graduation requirements set by their schools and approved by the state.
Hasn’t this economy been tough enough on developers? Financing dried up some time ago for most projects, so the dust has gathered on backhoes and shovels throughout Central Massachusetts and the Bay State. The good news is that the economy does look like it’s improving. Certainly, it’s taking its sweet time, most of us are confident that things are getting better.
Photo Finish From July 19, 2010 Issue Of The WBJ
Familiar faces from the Central Mass business community.
Marlborough Fire Hurts Downtown
It wasn’t much to look at. The three-story building on Main Street in the heart of downtown Marlborough was so nondescript that, according to Building Commissioner Stephen Reid, “Now that it’s leveled, many people can’t remember what was there.”
Report: Recession Did Little To Make Homes Affordable
If the recession’s impact on the housing market has a silver lining, it could be that homes have fallen in price, making them more affordable.
Shop Talk: Q&A With Patty Zillian Eppinger, Ecotarium
Patty Zillian Eppinger, board chair of the Ecotarium, discusses the role of nonprofits and what for-profits can learn from them.
Ameresco Hits The Public Markets
What do you get when you combine a company in a fast-growing sector with an initial public offering market that is recovering after almost two years of inactivity?
Saint-Gobain Division Changes Hands
If all goes as planned, on July 31, one building in Saint-Gobain’s Greendale Campus in Worcester will quietly shift ownership from the French building materials company to Colorado’s CoorsTek Inc.
An effort is afoot on Beacon Hill to officially change the name of the six of the state’s nine public colleges to state universities. While discussions to change the state colleges to state universities have been going on for decades, the state House of Representatives recently passed the measure and the state Senate is expected to consider it.
Contents Of The July 19, 2010 Issue Of The WBJ
Check out the latest issue of the WBJ.