Worcester Business Journal

6 Worcester Business Journal • February 2, 2015 www.wbjournal.com an increase of $3.1 million over 2013. Net income for the fourth quarter declined, meanwhile, to $9.4 million, from $10.3 million in 2013, though sales were up overall. The company reported $216.2 million in natural gas sales in 2014, up from about $200 mil- lion in 2013. For the quarter, natural gas sales totaled $52.8 million, down slightly from $53.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. But electricity sales rose 1.3 percent to $392.2 million, com- pared with $387.1 million a year earlier. The parent company of Citizens Bank, which operates about 30 branches in Central Massachusetts, saw a 4-percent jump in profits in the fourth quarter of 2014, finishing the year with an 18-per- cent surge in profits, at about $790 mil- lion, according to a statement from Citizens Financial, based in Providence. Citizens earned $197 million, or 36 cents per share in the quarter, com- pared with $189 million, or 34 cents per share, in the third quarter. That was based on revenue of $1.2 billion, which rose 2 percent, the bank said. GARDNER — Mount Wachusett Community College will launch a six- week training program in advanced manufacturing this month at its Devens campus, and is recruiting students. Full scholarships for the day program are available for eligible students. The pro- gram is designed especially for unem- ployed or underemployed adults, veter- ans and recent high school graduates who want to train for careers in manu- facturing. Programs provide students with training in skills required for entry-level employment as technicians in such roles as manufacturing, valida- tion, quality control, documentation and process operations. WORCESTER — Seven groups pitched transportation solutions to Worcester investors and collaborators in the cul- mination of a National Science Foundation program shared with Chicago and San Diego. The proposals ranged from Secret City Interactive, a smartphone and tablet application that scans the environment of Worcester to display historical and event informa- tion, to Wires over the World, which proposes a skyline transportation sys- tem working its way across Worcester for a fraction of the price of a subway. While the programs were developed as part of a grant-funded program, the product of the groups' 10 months of work is all theirs, Joyce Kressler, the program's Worcester director, said. The groups operated under the Incubator for Innovation, a program operated in Chicago and San Diego as well as Worcester by The Art of Science Learning, a NSF-funded initiative, through a joint $2.6-million grant. Sales of single-family homes in Massachusetts ended the year on a high note with a 10-percent increase over December 2013, according to The Warren Group. The Boston-based real estate research organization said that 4,209 single-family homes were sold across the state in December, a 9.6-per- cent increase over December 2013, when there were 3,841 sales. Massachusetts added 10,900 jobs in December and the unemployment rate dropped to 5.5 percent in December, the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) said. The figures are based on prelimi- nary estimates from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). They show that the December unemployment rate was down 0.3 of a percentage point over November. BLS also revised its November job estimate to an 11,700 job gain from the 13,500 gain previously reported for the month. n >> Continued from previous page $200 $210 $220 $230 $240 $250 Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. MEDIAN SALE PRICE BY MONTH (In thousands of dollars) $221K $248.5K REGIONAL BRIEFS Source: The Warren Group Central Mass. housing prices up from 2014 The median sale price of a single-family home in Worcester County rose 3.11 percent in 2014, from $226,500 to $233,544. Christopher Provo, RFC, CRPC ® • President 385 South St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545 508.842.0539 Office • 508.842.0571 Fax Chris@ProvoFinancial.com • www.ProvoFinancial.com Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Provo Wealth Management Group, a registered investment advisor. Provo Wealth Management Group and Provo Financial Services, Inc. are separate entities from LPL Financial. Awards W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J o u r n a l 2015 B E S T O F B U S I N E S S W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J o u r n a l Provo Financial Services, Inc. voted Best of Business in Financial Planning/ Investment Services in central Massachusetts based on The Worcester Business Journal online polling. WI-08314-0612 Tracking #1-097898 Life may be short, but it's never too late to live it your way. I can help you build an investment strategy that works toward your long-term goals, helping you to retire confidently on your terms. Call today for more information or to schedule a visit. YOUR LIFE, YOUR WAY. RETIRE CONFIDENTLY. Provo Financial Services, Inc. Christopher Provo, RFC, CRPC® President 385 South St. Shrewsbury, MA 01545 508.842.0539 Office 508.842.0571 Fax Chris@ProvoFinancial.com www.ProvoFinancial.com Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Provo Wealth Management Group, a registered investment advisor. Provo Wealth Management Group and Provo Financial Services, Inc. are separate entities from LPL Financial. Simply Beter. saversbank.com 800.649.3036 Member FDIC Member SIF Equal Housing Lender It's Your Move. Choose Wisely. Our Commercial Services Team is the wise choice to help your business win the game. Make your move, choose Savers Bank today.

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