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5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester – July 21

By TWIW Staff | July 21, 2021
Last Updated: July 21, 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 – Wednesday, July 21 – Senators call for more representation in Worcester, Madison Properties host groundbreaking for apartment complex near Polar Park, Anna Maria College is hosting the Battle of the Badges, WPI and Worcester Historical Museum are collecting local stories on the pandemic and Massachusetts is ranked among top 10 states to start a business.

Senators Chandler, Moore Call for More Worcester Representation

Senator Michael Moore and Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler sent a letter to the Redistricting Committee on Tuesday in support of maintaining two senators for the city of Worcester. 

The letter outlines the reasons for keeping two senators in Worcester, such as the diverse population and changing demographics. The letter also describes the precedent for their being two senators, as Springfield and Boston both have at least two. 

In the letter, Senators Chandler and Moore say, “Re-districting is a critical process to ensure that each community is appropriately represented. The residents of Worcester deserve to have the same kind of representation as other large gateway cities in the Commonwealth. Ensuring that a minimum of two Senators remain representing Worcester helps to ensure that the needs and the voice of those residents are heard and supported.”

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for SOMA Complex

Madison Properties, the Worcester Red Sox and the City of Worcester hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday for the multi-family residential complex, South of Madison (or “SOMA”).

This first-phase of multi-family development will build out 228 market-rate apartment units offering unique amenities and interior spaces that will make the complex one of the most desirable in the city.  The plot, directly across the street from Polar Park’s DCU Plaza and Home Plate Gate D, is situated between Madison Street, Green Island Boulevard, Washington Street, and Lamartine Street.

The multi-family building will offer a variety of one, two, and three-bedroom units.

Anna Maria College Hosts Battle of the Badges

Anna Maria College announced its second annual Battle of the Badges will take place on Thursday, August 5, and Friday, August 6.

The college designed the program for students interested in exploring the fields of criminal justice, fire science or emergency management to learn more about the College’s programs in these areas.

The two-day program enables participants to experience hands-on learning and demonstrations from expert instructors from federal, state and community agencies and organizations.

The event includes a full schedule of educational experiences with meals and snacks included in the program along with overnight accommodations in one of Anna Maria College’s residence halls.

Contribute to Capturing the History of the Pandemic

The Worcester Historical Museum [WHM] and Worcester Polytechnic Institute [WPI] hold a free virtual program on Wednesday, July 28, at 7 PM, about participation in COVID-19 Chronicles: Worcester’s Community Archive chronicles.

Over the past 18 months. WHM and WPI have partnered to collect the stories of the pandemic. This program is to help Worcester community members understand how they can further participate and contribute to COVID-19 Chronicles.

These inclusive, wide-ranging stories are important to document history during these times – both personal and professional.

Learn why it is important to participate to preserve these stories even as the city opens up and we move on with our lives. Hear from Dr. Matilde Castiel, Commissioner of Health and Human Services; young residents from the Worcester Youth Center; Tim Garvin from the United Way and Worcester Together; local documentary photographer Matt Wright; and archive coordinator Allison Steeves, WPI ’21.

Learn more about the event here.

Massachusetts Ranked 10th Best State to Start a Business

A new study ranked each state across the country and ranked the best and worst states to start a business.

Researchers found Massachusetts to be the 10th best state to start a business.

The study analyzed 28 key indicators of startup success within a data set that ranges from financing accessibility to COVID-19 cases to office-space affordability.

The study compiled those indicators into three categories. Here is how states in and around New England ranked overall, and in each category.

Rank State Business
Environment
Access to
Resources
Business
Costs
10 Massachusetts 13 2 43
13 Maine 11 32 18
22 New York 19 3 46
37 Vermont 31 47 27
38 New Hampshire 14 43 38
43 Pennsylvania 44 20 34
48 Rhode Island 48 17 37
49 Connecticut 49 6 47
50 New Jersey 39 11 50

See the best and worst states to start a business in the United States here.

To see the full study and its methodology, visit WalletHub.com.

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