Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | June 2, 2025 | wbjournal.com BY ERIC CASEY WBJ Managing Editor A er the project has been stuck in limbo, the Massachusetts state government has offered a $25-million boost to the efforts to redevelop the Worcester Memorial Auditorium. e commitment to the revitaliza- tion project, which is expected to cost around $100-million, was announced by Gov. Maura Healey's office on May 14. e funds would match private philanthropy dollars, with the hope the commitment from the state will spur new commitments, according to Karissa Hand, press secretary for Gov. Healey. "Our administration wants to support this project and play a part in returning the Worcester Memori- al Auditorium to its place as a vital cornerstone of Worcester's civic and cultural identity, while honoring the veterans for whom it was originally built," Healey said in the press release. "Our hope is that the state's commit- ment to redeveloping this facility will spark others to step up and provide the full financing necessary to make this project a reality." Constructed in the 1930s in remem- brance of Worcester residents who fought in World War I, the auditorium was once the city's most prominent event venue, attracting acts which included Bob Dylan and e Rolling Stones. e venue also served as the former home for games of the Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team. Redevelopment of the 2,000-seat, 165,000-square foot venue is being led by the Boston-based Architectural Heritage Foundation. e projected operating costs of the facility are a major hurdle towards its redevelopment, Jake Sanders, project executive at Architectural Heritage Foundation and a past member of for- mer City Manager Edward Augustus' cabinet, told WBJ in December. Sanders said in December if historic tax credits for the site are approved, work could begin in 2026. Worcester officials commended the state's commitment of funds. "is $25M match from the Healey- Driscoll Administration is a game changer for the redevelopment of the Worcester Memorial Auditorium," City Manager Eric Batista said in the press release. "e Auditorium is a central piece of Worcester's downtown and Lincoln Square, and we are thrilled to see funding come in to help restore the building to its full potential as a vibrant hub of economic vitality. We hope this funding will generate further interest in bringing this project to fruition." I N B R I E F $7.25M purchase "We are thrilled to be part of writing the next chapter for this marquee property here in the city and to further our invest- ment, literally and figuratively, in Worcester with this acquisition." Dave Fontaine Jr., CEO of Springfield-based Fontaine Bros., on his collaborative purchase of two Worcester buildings, including the sites of Via Italian Table, Worcester Business Development Corp., for $7.25 million Next role "I am honored to be Encompass Health Braintree's next CEO. We will continue serving our community and the Greater Boston area with the compassionate, high-quality rehabilitative care that Encompass Health Braintree is known for." Former Saint Vincent Hospital CEO Carolyn Jackson on her new role as CEO of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Braintree, a position she assumed in April after resigning from Saint Vincent in February New CEO "Mark brings 30 years of combined experience in commercial leadership, channel development, and strategic solutions, and is the perfect choice to lead Lifeward in its next stage of growth." Joseph Turk, chairman of the Lifeward board of directors, on the Marlborough medical device manufacturer's incoming President and CEO Mark Grant. Pictured is Grant. State commits $25M to Worcester Auditorium redevelopment The murals and architecture inside the Worcester Memorial Auditorium are an awe-inspiring sight to behold, but the building itself is in need of $100 million in renovations to make it functional again. PHOTOS | COURTESY OF WORCESTER MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM W

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