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March 20, 2023

Small businesses run by people of color struggle to find financing as VCs' priorities have shifted away from providing multicultural opportunities

Isabel Tehan

BIPOC-owned startups seeking out larger investments have come up short, in large part because the deck is stacked against them.

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    UMass Chan laying off 26 at vaccine manufacturing division

    Isabel Tehan

    UMass Chan Medical School is consolidating its workforce at MassBiologics, its Boston-based biologics and vaccine manufacturing arm. The affected positions will be eliminated in 60 days.

  • Advice
    Advice

    10 Things I know about ... Keeping a small business moving forward

    Gicelle Brito

    Tips from Gicelle Brito, the vice president, business development officer for Workers Credit Union of Littleton, on keeping a small business running.

  • Advice
    Advice

    What content marketing is and why I like it

    Michael Donovan

    Content marketing: You can think of it as a blend of three elements: advertising, branding, and thought leadership. Advertising is about selling. Branding is about projecting a personality and set of values in all you do. Thought leadership is about sharing knowledge.

  • Advice
    Advice

    101: Organizational design

    Susan Shalhoub

    Without organizational design, where the administration and execution of that plan happens (the magic, essentially), your plan never comes to fruition.

  • Editorial
    Editorial

    Editorial: Creating a well-rounded life sciences ecosystem

    Central Mass. has a real opportunity to leverage its successes and make a significant mark upon the global life sciences industry.

  • Opinion
    Opinion

    A Thousand Words: Women in Brewing

    Ramón L. Sandoval

    Central Massachusetts breweries celebrate Women's History month by releasing female-led beers and making donations to organizations helping women in brewing.

  • Opinion
    Opinion

    Viewpoint: Biden's asylum ban is not the answer

    Angela Bovill & Jeffrey Thielman

    his is completely contrary to our fundamental values of providing refuge to those who are fleeing persecution, violence, or other threats.

  • Editorial
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    Editorial

    From the Editor: Exploring tourism in Central Mass.

    Brad Kane

    There’s much to love about what Central Massachusetts venues and attractions have to offer businesses, visitors, and residents. They may not jump out at you the way Boston or Cape Cod do, but this region’s offerings have substance and plenty to explore.

  • Movers & Shakers
    Movers & Shakers

    Movers & Shakers for March 20, 2023

    See who is on the move at Lamoureaux Pagano Associates, AAFCPA's, Fidelity Bank, and more.

WBJ Web Partners

Today's Poll

Will the life sciences industry play a bigger role in the Central Mass. economy over the next few years?
Poll Description

Life sciences has been the hot industry in Central Massachusetts over the last few years, as the region looks to leverage its proximity to the global Cambridge-Boston innovation hub and cement biomanufacturing and biotech as cornerstone industries of the area economy. Major prospective development projects are underway in Worcester, Devens, and Marlborough, as many Central Massachusetts communities hope to capture an industry expansion. Yet, after significant growth in the early 2020s, the life sciences industry has been in a down cycle over the last couple of years, with Greater Boston companies laying off workers and an overbuilt lab market further slowing any new developments. Data released by the Cambridge-based Massachusetts Biotechnology Council in late August shows Worcester County was the sole Massachusetts region to gain biomanufacturing jobs between 2022 and 2023. Worcester County added 279 new jobs, accounting for a 11.8% jump in growth. In contrast, Norfolk, Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk counties saw a combined loss of 556 jobs. These industry jobs numbers come as leaders await the outcome of the Massachusetts House-passed $1-billion life sciences reauthorization initiative as it stalls in the Senate.

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