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Creating Jobs in August

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While August created a lower number of jobs than July, an addition of 176,000 is still a step in the right direction. According to payroll processor ADP, which measures employment using payroll data, jobs have been created largely in the goods producing and manufacturing industries. Yahoo Finance had predicted that 210,000 jobs would be produced in August.

The largest industries of growth for job creation were, service providing industries, with 165,000 jobs created. Professional and business services with 50,000. Trade, transportation and utilities added 40,000 jobs.

ADP states that the job increase is consistent with the growth in jobs over the past 12 months. The government has noticed the increase in jobs, saying that initial jobless claims dropped by 9,000. Creating jobs in the past couple years has been fairly stagnant in Massachusetts, these encouraging numbers will hopefully turn that trend around.

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2013 Worcester Pride Parade and Festival

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President and CEO of Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, will be attending this year’s annual Gay Pride Parade in Worcester on Saturday, September 7, 2013. Tim Murray is the first grand marshall to ever attend the annual parade. Worcester Pride, an organization who recognizes, promotes and unifies the LGBTQ community, allies and supporters in Central Mass., is in charge of coordinating the annual parade.

Peter Bacchiocchi, a Committee member, stated that, “Historically, Tim – in all of positions as mayor, lieutenant governor and now head of the Chamber – has always been suportive of the LGBTQ community. He has listened to our agenda and has supported it.”

Tim Murray made the following statement, “I am proud to participate in this great event and honored to have been chosen. In my previous positions, I have always represented everyone in our community and as head of the Chamber, look forward to embracing every business. I am also happy to call this community of rich diversity my home.

This year’s theme is Pride = Equality. Laura Farnsowrth, the parade Committee Chair said, “We are pleased that he accepted this honor. When the committee began discussions, it was a natural fit and it was unanimous decision. His returned to the city connected the dots for us. Many small business owners are members of the LGBTQ community and of course, we are all consumers.”

The Worcester Pride Co-Chair, John Trobaugh, spoke about Tim Murray saying, “Tim Murray supported our community before leaving for the statehouse and now that he is back promoting the economic wellbeing of our region, it made sense to the committee to reach out to him! We were all so very excited and honored to have Tim help us renew energy into the Parade!”

The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. on Main Street and concludes at approximately noon at the Worcester Common. The parade has more than doubled in size over the previous year and is expected to increase this year. The parade includes marchers, floats and a marching band as participants.

ABOUT WORCESTER PRIDE:

Worcester Pride has existed is a variety of forms over the past 30 plus years. They work year round to create an environment where LGBTQ individuals and business owners and their allies thrive. Pride believes that a healthy community is an inclusive one. Pride welcomes the participation in and volunteers for community goals and a variety of sponsored events and celebrates those who make specific strides to enhance the visibility of Worcester’s LGBTQ community. The participation of all, regardless of age, creed, gender, gender identity, HIV status, national origin, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation is welcome. Pride sponsors or participates in a variety of events, lectures, and community discourses around LGBTQ advocacy. The organization celebrates those who make strides to enhance the visibility of Worcester’s LGBTQ community. Pride is Equality. They can be reached at worcesterpride@gmail.com and information is available on their website: www.worcesterpride.org.

The Importance of Online Marketing Partners

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A key component for small businesses to grow its market share and bottom line is online marketing. Small businesses must decide whether to embark on online marketing internally or to have a partner take over. Many small businesses become frustrated with the process of online marketing even though they see the importance of it.

Below are 5 reasons small businesses are choosing outside firms to do their online marketing for them:

Professional Expertise – Small businesses see the value in hiring experts in online marketing who are prepared to stay on top of their specific challenges.

Outside Perspective – Small businesses recognize that an outside firm is willing to judge their situation and recommend solutions that they may not see themselves.

Costs – There are a lot of costs associated with maintaining an internal marketing department. It is far more cost effective to go with an outside marketing firm.

Focus – Hiring an online marketing firm allows small businesses to focus on their core purpose and allow their online marketing partner to do the same.

Position – Many small businesses are not experts in online marketing. A firm with the right expertise and knowledge will keep the small business ahead of the game.

What’s the best way for your small business to gain expertise, perspective, financial health, focus and the position it needs to stay on top in today’s market?

Read more about this blog here.

Mass Business Blog Announces the Launch of their Website

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Mass Business Blog announced the launch of their new website for Massachusetts Businesses and consumers. The website allows Massachusetts businesses to post guest blogs about the latest activities of their business, trends in their industry or other relevant news about their business or industry. Submitting a guest blog to Mass Business Blog is free of charge, and business are encouraged to submit a guest blog to attract attention for their business.

Mass Business Blog is a source for local businesses and consumers to read interesting and relatable content. Additionally, posting a blog on a third party site, such as Mass Business Blog, will provide company news with a further reach than only using an onsite blog. Blogs submitted for publication on the site are reviewed and edited by Mass Business Blog editors, and are approved before being released on the website.

To read the full story click here.

Worcester on the Affordable Care Act

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Recently a panel was held in Worcester to discuss health care reform. Secretary of administration and finance, Glen Shor acted as the keynote speaker and spoke positively on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He claimed it would help break down barriers to health care, along with assisting Massachusetts in receiving extra federal Medicaid reimbursements, that are issued to help cover uninsured or low-income patients. There is still plenty of room for improvement, and Shor is quoted saying, “Positive does not mean perfect.”

Other speakers on the panel include Patrick Farrell, Peter J. Martin, Jack Myers and Jean Yang. Topics were covered such as small businesses incentives to provide health care and how company culture relates to health care. Peter Martin was optimistic stating that Massachusetts has  “a relatively easy path ahead of us.” Employers are encouraged to keep up with the law as it changes and take a look at what others in the industry are offering.

Read more on the affordable care act panel here.

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Millbury competes for state’s only casino

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Recently, representatives from Mass Gaming & Entertainment LLC (MGE) unveiled their plans for a $200-million slots parlor on McCracken Road in Millbury. The plan will compete with other towns in Massachusetts for the state’s only slots parlor, including nearby Leominster. With traffic already a major concern due to the Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, MGE quickly addressed the issue, saying the project will “improve traffic in the area.”

According to MGE’s plan, the casino will bring 400 permanent jobs to the town and its design will incorporate elements of Millbury architecture. The developer plans to seek LEED Gold certification in using environmentally sustainable building practices and materials.

Residents in Millbury will vote on September 24 to determine if MGE can submit a final proposal.

Read the full article in the Worcester Business Journal.

Massachusetts Firms Look to WIN-911 to Raise the Alarm

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Austin, Texas is pretty far away from the rolling hills and rocky shores of Massachusetts, but a Texas firm is supplying some of the top Massachusetts companies with a software product that protects their assets and, in some cases, even saves lives.

Companies such as Raytheon, EMC, Boston Scientific, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Biogen all have industrial processes that control and monitor their facilities. If part of the system malfunctions, it’s imperative to know right away. Those firms look to WIN-911, formerly Specter Instruments, the world’s most widely-used alarm notification software for the process control industry to recognize issues and raise an alert.

Working in unison with a company’s SCADA system and able to push notifications through a variety of devices and network environment (smartphone push notifications, web browser, analog or VOIP phone calls, SMS messages, email, in-plant announcement system, and other devices), WIN-911 recognizes an alarming condition and notifies the appropriate party. WIN-911’s built-in logic engine also decides how the notification escalates should the alarm continue to be a problem.

As a company with global clients, WIN-911 has plenty of options for service providers. Yet WIN-911 looked back to Massachusetts to keep its business at the leading edge of the online world. With a website newly designed by Worcester-based firm Applied Interactive, LLC, WIN-911 is set to launch a new version of it’s alarm notification software to the world, via touchpoints in Massachusetts.

Millions in Massachusetts State Tax Credits To Life Science Companies

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The 2012 Mass Tax Credit Transparency report revealed that about $17 million was awarded to life science companies. In total $159.2 million in state tax credits were issued this year, with 11% going to life science companies. The $17 million was distributed to 28 different companies to improve life science research and investments

The largest category in the life science is the research credit, which received just under $7 million. This is due to the yearly increases in expenses in the state. $1.8 million of that seven went to Biogen Inc., a biotechnology company, that manufacturers drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis as well as other diseases. Shire Human Genetic Therapies Inc. was awarded $3 million, the largest amount for investment tax credit. In 2010 Shire began a $400 million venture into Lexington Technology Park. Along with investment and research credits, job credits were also awarded. Enough was issued to create at least 50 total new full-time jobs in the state of Massachusetts.  

Read more details about the tax credits to life sciences companies here.

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MassWorks Infrastructure Program Enters New Round

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Applications opened earlier this summer for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program – a program available for eligible public entities in need of funding to support economic development and job creation. The program opens a short window (September 3, 2013 – September 13, 2013) for entities to submit their applications for grant consideration. Grants offered this year will support housing or commercial growth opportunities that help support Massachusetts sustainability.

In 2012, the Patrick Administration awarded $38 million to 26 MassWorks Infrastructure projects. Last year’s grants supported projects requiring infrastructure upgrades or expansions in order for new growth to take place. This year Gregory Bialecki, a spokeswoman for the Housing and Economic Development Secretary, announced that there is roughly $25 million available for projects. In past years, funding ranged from $200,000 to $10.1 million.

 

To read the full article, click here.

 

A Family Legacy Drives the Future

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After 128 years in business, the contract manufacturing firm, the Coghlin Companies knows what they are doing. Four generations of the firms have dedicated themselves to meeting the needs of companies bringing products to market quickly and cost-effectively.

As a global source for contract manufacturing, the Coghlin Companies is helping clients capitalize on opportunities in their marketplace by offering flexible time-to-market design and manufacturing services. They serve clients in the military, information technology, and manufacturing industries with a penchant for new product introductions and meeting design challenges.

WIth more than one hundred years of experience manufacturing complex products, the caring associates of Coghlin also provide consulting expertise, such as design modifications to save time and money, to help clients get to market faster.

The strive for excellence is not just driven by the desire to help clients, but also by a family tradition of giving back to the community. The Coghlin Companies were 2013 recipients of the Central Mass Family Business Award presented by the Worcester Business Journal and recently had a record-breaking fundraising drive for the United Way. “Growing up around the kitchen table we’d hear, ‘The joy is in the giving,’” said Jim Coghlin, chief operating officer and the driving force behind the Coghlin Companies’ annual campaign to support the United Way.

The Coghlin Companies also shares its community philosophies with customers and suppliers, showing that giving back is a core value of the firm. “We tell our clients the more successful we are as a company, the more opportunities we have to give back,” said Coghlin.