Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 2, 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 5 B R I E F S Get Amazon to open in Worcester Newton Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Setti Warren said last month he wants Amazon to come to Worcester. City officials are open to the idea and are submitting an individual application, as well as working with the state to submit a statewide application not specific to Worcester. The Seattle-based company is proposing to bring its second headquarters with 50,000 workers to a metropolitan area, and Massachusetts could be on its radar. When polled, WBJ readers said the city should push hard to be a contender in the contest. F L A S H P O L L Texas firm sells Milford power plant in $119M sale Houston energy company Dynegy has sold its Milford and Dighton power plants to Starwood Energy Group Global for $119 million. The transaction was made to address Federal Energy Regulatory Commission concerns about comple- tion of the ISO New England's Southeastern New England capacity zone. The sale was approved by FERC on Sept. 19. Dynegy announced in July an agree- ment to sell three generating plants - including the Milford and Dighton plants - for a combined $300 million. The two Massachusetts gas fueled- power plants total a combined 310 megawatts of energy, according to Dynegy. The third plant, a 625-megawatt gas- fired plant in Illinois, was sold for $180 million. Fidelity Bank, Colonial near $870M merger Leominster- based Fidelity Bank and Gardner-based Colonial Co-operative Bank will merge to create a $870-million financial institution. The agreement has Fidelity essentially acquiring the much smaller Colonial. The bank has assets of $800 million compared to Colonial's $70 million. Fidelity will earmark $500,000 in increased contributions and investments for communities in the Gardner and Winchendon area in the form of charita- ble donations to nonprofit organizations and establish a microloan fund. Continued on next page Webster • Dudley • Oxford • Auburn • Worcester • Shrewsbury Developing long-term partnerships with his customers, so he can be a trusted resource as they grow their businesses. At Webster Five, your success is important to us. Whether you're a small start-up or a large corporation, we offer all the financial tools, resources and progressive services you need to succeed. Make an appointment and tell Alex what's important to you. Visit web5.com/Alex or call 508.438.4725. What's important to Alex? Alex Cruz, AVP, Business Lending Officer KHJ23427_WEB374_BuisLender_4_3x5_5_Mech.indd 1 3/10/17 11:00 AM Do you want Amazon to locate its HQ2 in Worcester? Yes. More jobs and economic growth are never a bad thing. 60% Yes. But only if the city can negotiate a fair tax agreement and limit traffic congestion. 20% 1% "I would suggest the state wait and see what the looming Fed antitrust investigations against Amazon lead. I also don't understand why we keep piling more and more into our crowded cities when there are great highways winding through the landscape with lots of room." 17% The city and state should move for- ward with a state- wide application and see if Amazon is willing to make use of the state's transportation and education. COMMENTS: 2% No. The city can't meet the company's criteria. No. The city is already too crowded and the local economy is already thriving. Edward Manzi, CEO, Fidelity Bank

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