Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | May 4, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 5 but will be eligible to apply for roles through their new operators, said Shelly Hazlett, UMass Memorial me- dia and public relations director. e system is working to identify potential roles within UMass Memo- rial for the impacted workers and is collaborating with leaders of the local SEIU labor union to explore transition plans to support and retain caregivers. Changes were announced in a letter sent to Community Healthlink care- givers by President Gordon Benson. "While these are difficult decisions, they are necessary so our clients can continue receiving the services they need," Benson said in the letter. Peters & Sowyrda merging with Marlborough law firm Worcester law firm Peters & Sowyrda will merge with Marlbor- ough-based Mitrakas & LaForce. e firms signed the merger agree- ment March 1 and are working to integrate their technologies, particu- larly mortgage processing soware, said Norman Peters, owner of Peters & Sowyrda. e integration is expected to take place May 12, with the merger finalized by the end of May. "At some point, you have to have an exit strategy," Peters said. "One of the guys from the other firm, Dillon LaForce, does the exact same work I do, so that will help create a continuity for our clients and staff." e new firm will be known as Peters, Mitrakas & LaForce. e merger did not include any financial exchange. e combined company will have seven lawyers and nine paralegals with two offices in Marlborough and Worcester. Peters specializes in resi- dential and commercial real estate legal work, and the main motivation behind the merger was eventually handing off that work to another attorney, he said. GFA closes two rural branches as part of digital banking shift Gardner-based GFA Federal Credit Union has closed full-service two branches in Ashburnham and Rutland, in a move the company said will free up resources to invest in its digital capabilities. Full-service branches at 35 Main St. in Ashburnham and 32 Pommogussett Road in Rutland are closed. ATMs have been retained at the site. e credit union is aligning its resourc- es with how members are banking, which includes deeper investment in digital capabilities, securities, and tools providing greater convenience. All employees from the branch- es have been retained by the credit union, said Christal Brown, vice pres- ident & director of marketing at GFA. GFA continues to operate two branches in Gardner, with additional branches in Hubbardston, Winchen- don, and three in New Hampshire. GFA customers can complete transactions at Littleton-headquar- tered Workers Credit Union's new Leominster branch, which opened in January, as part of the CO-OP Shared Branching network, a nationwide partnership of credit unions. Worcester weighs $1.4M tax break for Polar Park housing development Worcester City Manager Eric Batis- ta is requesting the City Council ap- prove a tax-increment exemption for a 197-apartment development planned for the Canal Dis- trict, a tax break originally intend- ed for Madison Properties. e 10-year agreement would result in about $1.4 million in property tax savings for GFI Partners, the Boston-based developer behind the project at 39 Green Island Blvd. GFI effectively would take over the original TIE agreement for the apart- ment building originally envisioned by Boston-based Madison Properties for the site, according to Batista's letter to the Worcester City Council. Since the Madison project was never built, no tax exemptions have been awarded yet for that particular parcel. Madison plans to sell the parcel to GFI Partners following commence- ment of the new apartment project. Madison has previously found itself at odds with City leaders over projects in the Polar Park baseball stadium area aer constructing e Revington, a 228-unit building next to the GFI site. e project will not include any units designated affordable, with GFI opting instead to instead make a payment to the City's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Member FDIC To learn more, contact: Peter Staiti SVP, Commercial Lending Center Manager 100 Front Street, Worcester, MA 508.769.5725 Peter.Staiti@RocklandTrust.com All loans and lines of credit are subject to credit approval and standard underwriting, which may require collateral and personal guaranties. Other terms and conditions may apply. Inquire with a Banker to learn more. Supporting local businesses. Building lasting relationships. $3,825,000 Owner-Occupied Real Estate Acquisition SBA 504 Loan Sterling, MA $8,622,000 Hotel Acquisition SBA 504 Loan North Smithfield, RI $3,904,500 Single Family Home Development Land Acquisition, Development & Construction Financing Southborough, MA $920,000 Equipment Financing Boylston, MA W Norman Peters, owner of Peters & Sowyrda Worcester City Manager Eric Batista Worcester should opt out of specialized stretch codes On April 27, the City of Worcester ended its effort to pause enforcement of special environmentally friendly stretch building codes. The City Council in 2023 had adopted the codes, in an effort to reduce the use of fossil fuels in buildings. After members of the business and real estate communities pushed back against the codes, saying they drove up costs and slowed development, City Manager Eric Batista in early April recommended the council pause enforcement. However, after conversations with state officials, Batista said the specialized stretch codes would remain in place for the foreseeable future. When polled online, the majority of WBJ readers said Worcester should not have such codes. Should Worcester have strict eco-friendly building codes? No, the City should opt out of specialized stretch codes altogether. 44% No, the City should pause enforcement to let the industry adjust to new regulations. 26% Yes, they show the City's commitment to sustainability. 16% Yes, they're good for the environment. 14%

• Cover