wbjournal.com | October 25, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 3
Editor, Brad Kane,
bkane@wbjournal.com
Senior Staff Writer,
Monica Benevides,
mbenevides@wbjournal.com
(Manufacturing, higher education,
diversity & inclusion)
Staff Writers
Katherine Hamilton
khamilton@wbjournal.com
(Real estate, health care)
Sloane M. Perron
perron@wbjournal.com
(Banking & finance)
Contributors
Susan Shalhoub, Livia Gershon
Photgraphers
Matt Wright, Edd Cote
Lead Researcher, Timothy Doyle,
tdoyle@nebusinessmedia.com
Research Assistant, Heide Martin,
hmartin@nebusinessmedia.com
Production Director, Kira Beaudoin,
kbeaudoin@wbjournal.com
Art Director, Mitchell Hayes,
mhayes@wbjournal.com
Senior Accounts Manager
Christine Juetten,
cjuetten@wbjournal.com
Senior Special Accounts Manager
Mary Lynn Bosiak,
mlbosiak@wbjournal.com
Marketing & Events Manager
Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com
COO, Mary Rogers,
mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com
Accounting Assistant, Rae Rogers,
rrogers@nebusinessmedia.com
Account Receivable Specialist,
Patty Harris,
pharris@nebusinessmedia.com
Human Resources, Jill Coran,
jcoran@nebusinessmedia.com
Director of Audience Development,
Valerie Clark,
vclark@nebusinessmedia.com
Operations Assistant,
Leah Allen,
lallen@nebusinessmedia.com
Publisher, CEO, Peter Stanton
pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com
Associate Publisher, Mark Murray
mmurray@wbjournal.com
President, Tom Curtin
tcurtin@hartfordbusinessjournal.com
Worcester Business Journal (ISSN#1063-6595) is published bi-weekly,
24x per year, including 4 special issues in May, September, October,
and December by New England Business Media. 172 Shrewsbury
St., Worcester, MA 01604. Periodicals postage paid at Worcester, MA.
Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address
changes to: Worcester Business Journal,
PO Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894.
Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions are available for $72.00. For more
information, please email wbjournal@cambeywest.com or contact our
circulation department at 845-267-3008. Fax: 845.267.3478
Advertising: For advertising information, please call Mark Murray at
508-755-8004 ext. 227. Fax: 508-755-8860.
Worcester Business Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited
manuscripts or materials and in general does not return them to
the sender.
Worcester Business Journal
172 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA 01604
508-755-8004 tel.
• 508-755-8860 fax
www.wbjournal.com
Worcester Business Journal
WBJ
A division of:
FACT BOOK: DOING BUSINESS
IN CENTRAL MASS.
4
Population boom ................................ 4
Central Mass. population growth over the past
decade exceeded expectations, led by MetroWest
and the fastest-growing major New England city.
Data: Fastest-growing jobs
& industries ......................................... 10
Aer significant cutbacks to start the coronavirus
pandemic, the restaurant and hospitality industry
is expected to lead job creation over the next two
years.
Retail developments............................. 12
e large shi in retail offerings in the last five years
has changed the way planners & developers are
approaching commercial real estate.
List & data: Employment in
Central Mass. ..................................... 18
e region's two largest industries by GDP are real
estate and manufacturing, while health care has
the most workers and four of the top 10 largest
employers.
Out to eat ................................................ 22
As Greater Worcester grows in population, so does
its dining scene.
List & data: Education ......................... 27
e education industry was growing employment
steadily until the coronavirus pandemic hit.
Who buys weed? ................................... 30
Nearly three years online, the Central Mass.
cannabis market caters to a wide variety of
consumers.
Improving expectations ..................... 37
Following their inaugural season, the WooSox
seek to build upon attendance figures impacted by
COVID.
Business Resource Guide ................... 41
All the service organizations, financing institutions,
chambers of commerce, government agencies,
trade groups, and nonprofits able to help Central
Massachusetts businesses grow.
WBJ's annual publication breaking down
the numbers behind the region's economy
12
22
30
