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5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester – June 11

By TWIW Staff | June 11, 2021
Last Updated: July 8, 2021

In today’s daily 5 Things You Need to Know feature, ThisWeekinWorcester.com explores five important items and stories that Worcester and Central Massachusetts residents should keep a close eye on.

These five things can cover a whole range of subjects and issues that we feel are pertinent to understanding what’s going on in the city and the cities and towns surrounding Worcester.

In today’s edition – Friday, June 11 – Worcester’s Black Heritage Juneteenth Festival is on Saturday, the Regional Environmental Council Summer Markets return, MassDevelopment issues grants to Main South Community Development Corporation, the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District is hosting a community meeting today on summer event plans in Worcester, and there’s a block party coming to Main Street next weekend.

The Black Heritage Juneteenth Festival on Saturday

Black Heritage Juneteenth Festival takes place this Saturday, June 12, between noon and 4 PM and starts with a flag raising event at Worcester City Hall.

The festival includes music and dance performances representing several African genres live-streamed from the Jean McDonough Arts Center.

Vendors and children’s crafts and activities at The Village at 4 King St. Addie Lee’s Soul Food at 596 Main St and R&R’s Jerk Chicken Truck at 300 Southbridge St. offers “Juneteenth specials.”

For more information, visit the Black Heritage Festival Worcester website.

REC Farmers Markets Return June 14

The Regional Environmental Council [REC] Summer Markets return on Monday, June 14.

REC Standing Farmers Markets operate Monday through Friday from 9 AM to noon at Beaver Brook, 326 Chandler St., and from 9 AM to 1 PM at University Campus, 965 Main St.

Mobile Markets stop updates are available on the REC website.

At all REC markets, purchases can be made with cash, credit, debit, SNAP, the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), Senior Farmers Market Coupons and WIC Farmers Market Coupons.

MassDevelopment Issues $60,000 to Main South CDC

MassDevelopment awarded $390,000 in grants to nine organizations to implement outdoor dining, business signage improvements, district branding and marketing plans, placemaking and wayfinding projects, public events, and more through locally developed business assistance programs in Gateway Cities.

The grants were awarded through MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Local program.

Among the grant is $60,000 to the Main South Community Development Corporation.

The CDC will use $30,000 to implement a branding and marketing plan, which was funded and managed by the Worcester TDI Partnership, to improve wayfinding and district perception. It includes funding printing and installation of banners for light poles on Main Street, decals for local businesses, printing and associated stands for neighborhood maps, and street signage pointing towards district assets.

The remaining $30,000 to complete a large storefront improvement program that will remake the facades of neighborhood the 818-830 Main Street block.

Worcester Business Improvement District Summer Events Meeting

The Downtown Worcester Improvement District hosts a community meeting on Saturday, June 11, at 9 AM. Representatives from the Hanover Theatre, ArtsWorcester and others will be there to discuss summer event plans for Worcester.

To RSVP for the meeting contact [email protected].

Creative Hub, Str8up Ent Hosting Block Party Next Weekend

Creative Hub and Str8up Ent have partnered with Wu Tang Management to throw a Community Block Party on Saturday, June 19.

It’s a family friendly, “old school” Main South block party to celebrate local artists and musicians.

The event will run from 12 PM to 9 PM and will include live music, food and drink, raffles and kids activities.

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