Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1544957
wbjournal.com | May 18, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 15 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 Q1 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 '26 Massachusetts Worcester MONTHLY RENT PRICES: $1,845 $2.545 REAL ESTATE F O C U S Effective average monthly rent, Worcester vs. Massachusetts Worcester City Manager Eric Batista is keeping a close eye on monthly rent prices, as they dropped for two consecutive quarters for the first time in 16 years. R .H. White Companies, Inc. • 41 Central Street , Auburn, MA • (508) 832-3295 • rhwhite.com Any job. Anywhere. Any time. R.H. White provides 24/7 facilities support to commercial, industrial, manufacturing, and municipal buildings. Services include: • 24-Hour Emergency Services • After-the-Meter Utilities • Carpentry • Process and Chemical Piping • Certified Welding Services • Vac Truck Services • Natural Disaster Response And much more! Construction and Service Solutions into the fund instead of creating affordable units on-site, those payments can range from several hundred thousand dollars to a couple million dollars depending on the size of the project. at money can then be used by other developers to build affordable housing elsewhere in the city. Housing is not something solved by one policy or one tool. We need multiple tools in the toolbox. What are the business-related pri- orities in your $1-billion City budget proposal for next fiscal year? One issue we consistently hear from businesses is frustration around inspection timelines, especially gas and electrical inspections tied to opening restaurants and businesses. Adding inspectors should help speed that process up so businesses can open faster. We also added a position in eco- nomic development specifically fo- cused on supporting small businesses. Small business owners oen just need somebody to call: Someone who can help navigate issues, provide informa- tion about grants, or explain what's happening in their neighborhood. e small business community is hurting like everybody else, and we want to continue reducing unneces- sary regulatory challenges wherever we can. Union Station just passed the 25th anniversary of its reconstruction. What's next for that area? Twenty-five years ago, the commu- nity rallied together to save Union Station, and today it's one of the most recognizable buildings in Worcester. Our focus now is continuing to activate the space. Most recently, we opened the food hub there. On the transit side, one of the biggest limitations has been the signaling system. e MBTA has now invested $20 million into upgrades to allow for greater train frequency. Ridership has continued increas- ing, which shows not only that Worcester residents want to travel east, but that more people from Greater Boston are coming into Worcester to work. at movement helps drive the local economy. is interview was conducted and edited for length and clarity by WBJ Managing Editor Eric Casey. W Source: CoStar