Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | February 22, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 7 Even with all the current changes, Commercial Financing can still flow smoothly. For lenders or borrowers, it's not always easy to steer through commercial lending options and opportunities. Whether you're a private entity, public company, financial institution, or nonprofit organization, our senior level team offers experience that ensures consistency, cost efficiency, and proven reliability. All of which can help you better navigate changing times. Real Knowledge in Real Time WO R C E ST E R | F R A M I N G H A M | B O STO N | C A P E CO D FletcherTilton.com COMMERCIAL LENDING | LOAN RESTRUCTURE REAL ESTATE, INDUSTRIAL, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT FINANCING SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) FINANCING Anthony Salvidio, Esq. 508.459.8004 Karen LaFond, Esq. 508.459.8015 ERA Key's Whitinsville buys Hopkinton firm e three real estate agents who comprise the 5-Star Homes Team in Hopkinton have joined ERA Key's Whitinsville office. ose realtors include Robyn Nasuti and Sean Terrell of Upton, as well as Kevin Haley of Mendon. "We're pleased to add agents of the caliber of the 5-Star Homes Team to our office," said Whitinsville Manager David Glasberg. "eir proven commitment to excellence will further enhance the quality of our reputation and inspire others to continue to achieve the highest possible level of customer satisfaction." Downtown Framingham, Inc. changing leaders Downtown Framingham, Inc. Execu- tive Director Courtney raen will step down in March aer four years and be replaced by Anthony Lucivero, pending a board vote at the its annual meeting. Lucivero, who grew up in Worcester, holds a master's degree in sustainability and environmental management from Harvard University Extension School and a bachelor's degree in political science from UMass Amherst. He has experience working in nonprofits, including as an advocacy fellow for the U.S. Green Building Council. He also previously worked at the U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center in Cambridge. Notre Dame du Lac finishes $3.2M renovation Notre Dame du Lac Assisted Living in Worcester has completed a $3.2-million renovation including updated kitchen- ettes, brighter lighting and new single studios with private bathrooms. e renovations to the 20-year-old building center on the facility's 24-room Harmony Village community, which includes those suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. e work at Notre Dame du Lac, which has 108 units, is a small part of site improvements fund- ed by the state agency MassDevelopment, totaling $33.6 million. Curaleaf opens 100th dispensary Cannabis company Curaleaf, head- quartered in Wakefield, has opened its 100th dispensary, located in Jacksonville, Fla. Curaleaf operates an adult-use and medical dispensary in Oxford. e Jacksonville location is the second of four new dispensaries the company plans to open in Florida in February. At that point, the company anticipates operating 37 dispensaries in Florida and 102 nationwide. Worcester community health centers have $149M in impact Worcester's two community health centers, which more oen treat low- income or vulnerable populations, treated more than 57,000 patients in 2018, totaling nearly 315,000 visits. e Family Health Center of Worcester and the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center provide the region with an economic benefit, including through the 1,125 people they employ together, according to a report by the Boston nonprofit Capital Link. e report, released by the two health centers, pegs their combined economic impact at $148.8 million, including direct spending at the centers and income spent in the community. e Family Health Center is the larger of the two, serving 29,001 patients in 2018, with 183,752 patient visits. Kennedy had 28,414 patients with a combined 131,223 visits. More than 90% of their patients are low-income and more than 70% identify as a racial or ethnic minority. British COVID variant spreading wider in Worcester County A new coronavirus variant is spreading far more in Worcester County than in other parts of Massachusetts, with 14 new cases reported Feb. 14 by the state Depart- ment of Public Health. ose new cases make up the bulk of the 19 new Massachusetts cases of a vari- ant first found in the United Kingdom. Variants detected in Brazil and South Africa have yet to be reported in Mass. Worcester County now has 14 known cases of the U.K. strain, ranging from two patients 18 or younger to one patient in the 60s. No hometowns or other identi- fying features were released beyond age range and gender. e first known Massachusetts case of the U.K. variant was reported Jan. 17, and the first Worcester County case was disclosed four days later. e Worcester County patient was said to have recently traveled overseas and was tested at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. e U.K. strain is more contagious than the most widespread coronavirus that spread worldwide early last year. Lou Brady, president and CEO of the Family Health Center of Worcester W

• Cover