Worcester Business Journal

6 Worcester Business Journal | June 26, 2017 | wbjournal.com B R I E F S DCU Center needs $60M in upgrades A facility assessment of the DCU Center in Worcester suggested the arena needs about $60 million in upgrades over the next two decades, including $30 million in the next five years. Priorities should include improving life safety and code compliance, guest comfort and accommodation, maintain- ing the building envelope, and upgrad- ing technology, according to the assess- ment from Boston architect Populous. Cliff Rucker buys stake in Palladium Worcester Railers Hockey Club Owner Cliff Rucker purchase an ownership stake in the Worcester Palladium, in an effort to increase activity downtown. The Palladium's 3,000-seat venue had about 25 mostly heavy metal shows last year, said Rucker. He said he hopes to bring about 100 shows annually with more diverse offerings, Rucker owns the Bowditch & Dewey building at 311 Main St., the Worcester Sports Center hockey rink in the Canal District, and is renovating 90 Commercial St. into a Railers bar. T H E T I C K E R 28% Total tax proposed on marijuana in the Massachusetts House's bill. Source: State House News Service 4.2% Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development Square feet of law firm Murray & Murray's newly purchased office space on Pleasant Street in Worcester. 41,00 Source: Kelleher & Sadowsky Years Shattuck Pharmacy in Northborough was in operation before permanently closing June 14. 119 Source: Shattuck Pharmacy Nichols launches counterterrorism degree Nichols College in Dudley has launched a master's degree in counter- terrorism as a way to help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The 30-credit degree will prepare students to work in the fields of intelli- gence, public policy and security. The program's faculty includes counterter- rorism expert and assistant professor of criminal justice Allison McDowell- Smith, a senior research fellow for the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism. Students in the program will take courses on homegrown violent extremism, international violent extremism, cybersecurity, border secu- rity, and the media's impact on violent extremism. UniBank appoints new president and CEO Sam Pepper, a 30-year veteran of the banking indus- try, is the new president and CEO of Whitinsville- based UniBank. He succeeds William Mahoney, who is retiring after serving as interim presi- dent and CEO for the past eight months. Pepper comes to UniBank from Kansas, where he was executive vice president and commercial banking president for Equity Bank. He also worked at Enterprise Bank & Trust and at BMO Harris Bank in Missouri. He is a graduate of Western New England University, and holds a master in business administration degree from Long Island University. Massachusetts unemployment rate for May, up from 3.9 percent in April Continued from previous page The DCU Center is surrounded by all the development happening in Worcester's downtown, Washington Square and Canal District. Sam Pepper, CEO & president, UniBank Member DIF Member FDIC Not every business needs a blacksmith in order to succeed, but they all need a banking partner. That's why Country Bank is proud to provide neighbors like Old Sturbridge Village with top-notch business banking products, lending expertise, and the occasional bit of forge welding advice. How can we help your business thrive? Come see us at any branch, visit countrybank.com/business, or call us at 1-800-322-8233 PROUD. COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE BUSINESSES – – W E GO WAY BACK WITH THE Average Marlborough home valuation, which has risen 81 percent since 2000 $328,430 Source: RKG Associates 7,760 Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development Jobs added in the Worcester metropolitan area between May 2016 and May 2017. $

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