Worcester Business Journal

FOCUS: Technology Political drag on capital investment 11 D.C. keeps businesses hanging over extension of Section 179 deduction. Growing consumption in Asia boosts business for Central Mass. companies. WBJ >> To Subscribe Q&A with Bill DiBenedetto of Lampin Corp., Uxbridge Shop Talk 8 Central Massachusetts' Source for Business News March 16, 2015 Volume 26 Number 6 www.wbjournal.com $2.00 12 Swinging for the fences If Worcester can't lure PawSox, can city boost its stature as destination for minor league sports? Minor league baseball Of the six minor league baseball franchises located within a 150-mile radius of Worcester, three are affiliates of the Red Sox. BY RICK SAIA Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer I n just a matter of weeks, the teal-and- black colors of the Worcester Sharks will begin to fade from the consciousness of the Central Massachusetts sports scene, as the local American Hockey League franchise packs up and heads west. That will leave the region without a pro- fessional sports team, something it has enjoyed for all but one of the last 21 years. But will landing another minor league sport here — be it hockey, baseball or some- thing else — amount to more than a field of dreams? Two city councilors think it's worth a shot, and they're aiming at the Pawtucket Red Sox, whose new owners have said they will move the top minor-league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox in two or three years, prefer- Takin' it to 'The Street' The IPO market is strong and, while it can boost a company's value and help it grow, Central Mass. firms say offering stock can also open the door to new challenges A number of Central Massachusetts companies have recently gone public in what experts say is one of the strongest markets for initial public stock offer- ings in years. Taking a company public can be a means to accelerate growth, but also presents challenges beyond those faced by private companies. The 2014 IPO market is at its most active since 2000. Over the last two years, 62 com- panies across the United States went public, according to Kathleen Smith, a principal at Renaissance Capital, a manager of IPO-focused exchange traded funds based in Greenwich, Conn. Moreover, stock in many of the companies that recently went public are trading well, leading to continued interest in the IPO market. >> Continued on Page 18 BY SAM BONACCI Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer >> Continued on Page 10 Pawtucket, RI Boston Red Sox (Level: AAA) Lowell Boston Red Sox (Level: A) Portland, ME Boston Red Sox (Level: AA) Manchester, NH Toronto Blue Jays (Level: AA) New Britian, CT Minnesota Twins (Level: AA) Norwich, CT Detroit Tigers (Level: A) P H O T O I L L U S T R A T I O N : M I T C H E L L H A Y E S

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