Public Policy Research - Worcester Regional Research Bureau

Turning Data Into Insight

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Attend our forum Building for Tomorrow

Attend the State of the City Address

Read our report Insights Insider: Worcester County’s Growing Job Sectors

View our visualization Cashing in on Cannabis

Read our report Bureau Update: Mass. Exodus in Civil Service

Read our report Insights Insider – Community Health: Asthma

Read our report Casting Ballots on Taxes: Town Meeting, Local Governance, and Proposition 2 1/2’s Limits

Watch Our 39th Annual Meeting featuring President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Check out our

Recent Reports & Forums

Building For Tomorrow

Join us on May 20th at 9:15AM for a discussion on Massachusetts’ Statewide Housing Plan, the Unlocking Housing Production Commission’s …

State of the City Address

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau and the City of Worcester will present a State of the City Address on Wednesday, …

Insights Insider: Worcester County’s Growing Job Sectors

WRRB releases the fifth edition, Insights Insider: Worcester County’s Growing Job Sectors. Insights Insider #5 will analyze job growth as …

2025 Thomas S. Green Public Service Award Recipients

Worcester Regional Research Bureau announces the recipients of the 2025 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards! Since 1988, The Research …

In the Zone will explore Inclusionary Zoning in practice across the Commonwealth. Program will feature remarks from Chris Kluchman of the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities, and a panel discussion moderated by Brian Iammartino of the Harvard Kennedy School. Panelists will include Aaron Clausen, Principal Planning Director for the City of Lynn; Peter Dunn, Chief Development Officer at the City of Worcester; and Andrew Levine, Hatfield Town Administrator, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler City Councillor for the City of Cambridge

In the Zone: Inclusionary Zoning, in Practice

Learn from in-depth research on Inclusionary Zoning policies & hear directly from practitioners about their experiences in MA communities.

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Welcome to The Research Bureau

Promoting Informed Debate and Decision-Making through Public Policy Research

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau serves the public interest of Greater Worcester by conducting independent, non-partisan research and analysis of public policy issues to promote informed public debate and decision-making. For thirty years, The Research Bureau has worked to protect the public interest in Greater Worcester by identifying issues, investigating impacts, and educating the public and government officials of opportunities and best practices.

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Suggest a Research Topic

The Research Bureau receives many suggestions for report subjects. When considering the viability of a potential report, WRRB staff asks a series of questions. In an effort to ensure we have answers to these questions when discussing an idea or pitch, we ask that our friends and partners with ideas provide as much detail as possible when submitting.

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Our Latest News

Worcester residents demand more police accountability following DOJ investigation

March 26, 2025

Several Worcester city leaders on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the police department’s response to a federal investigation that revealed officer misconduct that violates people’s constitutional rights.

Residents demand police review board at Worcester meeting focused on DOJ report

March 25, 2025

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has not provided further guidance for the City Of Worcester about the next steps regarding its report to the police department, City Manager Eric D....

Cashing in on cannabis: Worcester County communities collected $6.4M in cannabis taxes last year, with border communities realizing new windfalls

March 24, 2025

In November 2016, the majority of residents in 48 of the 60 municipalities in Worcester County cast votes in favor of legalizing cannabis for recreational use at the state level,...