Today, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB) announced that they have selected their next leader.

Do you know a municipal employee deserving of thanks -- and special recognition?

In April, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau issued a report that painted an admittedly grim picture for Worcester’s future retirees and budgets.

Ten years ago, Worcester’s downtown was going to hum. A consortium of city officials and investors pledged to turn 21 acres of blight into offices, stores, entertainment sites, and luxury residences. The $565 million project — to be privately and publicly funded — was named CitySquare.

For each municipal election cycle in Worcester, The Research Bureau prepares a report summarizing key economic, social and educational issues facing the city, and presents a series of detailed questions for the consideration of candidates for Worcester City Council, the job of mayor, and the Worcester School Committee.

With City Council and School Committee elections fast approaching, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau today released its “Questions for the 2013 Candidates for City Council and School Committee in Worcester,” outlining key questions to ask those running for public office.

Roberta Schaefer has been watching Worcester City Hall like a fiscal hawk since 1985.

Roberta Schaefer is pleased with Worcester's economy. As president of The Research Bureau, which is financed by Worcester's business establishment, she has spent decades developing policy analysis and information for Worcester's civic leaders.

WORCESTER — Worcester is among the top 50 cities in the United States in manufacturing activity, which is growing at a faster rate here than in the nation overall, according to a forum report Wednesday during the Central Mass Business Expo at the DCU Center.

Central Massachusetts manufacturers should focus on product development as large firms shift operations out of the Bay State, employers and industry experts said Wednesday.