Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | May 27, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 7 ending on May 1. Fell said picketers are not looking to assuage patients from entering the hospital, but instead, are aiming to inform those utilizing services about workers' conditions and the con- tract negotiations. "We want the community to be well aware of what's going on right now and to be willing to stand up and say something and stand up to the hospital," said Fell. Worcester seeks proposals to revamp plaza near Polar Park into pop-up retail, eateries e City of Worcester is seeking pro- posals to bring life to a plaza that serves as the northern entrance to the Polar Park baseball stadium. e City has issued a request for in- terest seeking to find an operator for the Rockland Trust Plaza, a 18,500-square- foot space located at 45 Green St. on the edge of the Canal District. A former City-owned parking lot, the parcel was converted into a plaza in 2022. Goals for the plaza outlined by the City include having the space serve as a dynamic and creative public space and pedestrian gateway to the ball- park, featuring amenities such as food, beverages, and pop-up retail space to be available for startup businesses. A City document outlining require- ments for potential operators notes the plaza must be activated or programmed for a minimum of 50 events per calendar year. e document requests proposals consider existing businesses in the Canal District and attempt to find uses complementing those businesses. Preference will be given to proposals outlining specific strategies to attract locally owned businesses and entrepre- neurs from underrepresented popula- tions to pop-up retail spaces. e City will handle utility costs, landscaping maintenance, snow remov- al, and operation of the plaza's fountain and irrigation systems. Operators will be responsible for security, trash remov- al, the installation of portable restrooms, and other equipment and infrastructure. Letters of interest are to be submit- ted to the City's Executive Office of Economic Development and are due no later than 10 a.m. on June 7. Continued from previous page Strategic tax planning Business valuation M&A Cybersecurity Estate planning Consulting Audit & assurance Backoffice transformation Fmerly Paresky Fli & Company Same trusted team in Massachusetts, now with more resources. uhy-us.com 508.650.1122 Contact us in Wayland today! Healey has not done enough to support Central Mass. businesses More than one year has passed since Gov. Maura Healey was sworn in as the 73rd governor of Massachusetts. Since then, Healey has spoken extensively about her commitment to attracting, retaining, and growing business in the state. At the same time, the Central Massachusetts Business Confidence Index dropped to 45.9 in April, the second lowest score in the index's history, reflecting declined views regarding the region's economic outlook. When polled online in mid-May, the plurality of WBJ readers gave Healey a failing grade in her support of the region's businesses. How would you grade Gov. Maura Healey's support of Central Massachusetts businesses in her tenure thus far? A-16% B-18% D-20% F-29% C-17% W

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