BUSINESS BRIEFS: Saving Whales, New Econ Team, Real Estate Outlook +

Above, Center for Coastal Studies image of a whale disentanglement.

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Franklin Town Pages Tells Whale of a Tale

The most recent issue of the monthly Franklin Town News (aka Local Town Pages) featured an article about Franklin Sheet Metal, which has carved itself a niche as a maker of special tools for the Center for Coastal Studies and their special work disentangling whales that have encountered fishing gear, anchor lines, etc. The Cottage Street business also produces special items for other research activities, too!

Worcester Area Real Estate Ranked High for 2023 in National Survey

Norfolk Daily Voice reported on a Realtor.com report which predicted the top 10 real estate growth markets for 2023. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford is ranked No. 1 and Worcester ranked No. 4.

Gov. Healey Powers Up Econ Development Team

Last week, Gov.Maura Healey named Yvonne Hao, Healey's to lead the Executive Office of Economic Development. Hao co-founded and held top roles at the investment firm Cove Hill Partners and was an operating partner at Pillar Ventures. She also served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer for PillPack, an online pharmacy that was acquired by Amazon in 2018, and previously worked at Bain Capital and McKinsey & Company.

Jason Snyder, was appointed to run the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security. He had spent about 10 years at Harvard University, serving as its chief technology officer since 2015. He has some familiarity with state government, though -- he was chief technology officer for Massachusetts throughout Gov. Deval Patrick's two terms in office. Before that, he worked 13 years at CSC Consulting Group. Snyder graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and lives in Reading.

NFIB Worried about Min Wage Hike Impact on Small Business

The Massachusetts’ minimum wage jumped to $15 per hour on January 1, 2023, the final tier in a series of wage hikes approved by the legislature in the 2018 Grand Bargain law. The silver lining for small businesses is an end to the state’s mandatory premium time-and-a-half pay for retail shops on Sundays and holidays. However, NFIB Massachusetts State Director Christopher Carlozzi warned that the new rate is one of the highest base wages in the nation. “With economic uncertainty still high and employers continuing to experience economic challenges, it would be prudent for state lawmakers to allow small businesses ample time to adjust before considering any additional wage hikes this legislative session,” he said.

Realtor and Town Councilor Ted Cormier-Leger Talks about RE Market

Episode 912 of the Franklin Matters Radio Show is a discussion with local realtor Ted Cormier-Leger on the area’s current real estate conditions. You can listen to the interview here. Ted also serves on the Franklin Town Council.

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