This report discusses the progress that downtown Worcester has made over the last decade and the projects proposed for the near future. After assessing certain challenges to revitalization, The Research Bureau makes some recommendations about how to strengthen the prospects for further progress in downtown Worcester.

This report discusses the significance of bond ratings for a municipality's financial well-being and examines seven indicators of municipal fiscal health that are key determinants of a municipality's bond rating.

This report examines six indicators of municipal fiscal health that are key determinants of a municipality's bond rating.

This report examines the human and financial resources available to educate Worcester Public Schools students as well as student performance since the passage of the Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA) of 1993.

This report examines student, school, and district performance in relation to the standards implemented under the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 and the Federal No Child Left Behind legislation signed into law in 2002 in an effort to close the achievement gap between subgroups of students.

This report examines the value and nature of tax-exempt property in Springfield, the financial health of the City and the individual colleges, the services and benefits provided by the colleges to Springfield and its residents, the municipal services that the colleges use, as well as describing PILOT programs (and state local aid programs) in Massachusetts and elsewhere.

Annual survey of citizen satisfaction with municipal services.

Analyzes the City of Worcester's cable contract with Charter Communications and examines cable licenses in 14 other cities.

Sixth annual report tracking economic development in Worcester.

Analyzes first response to medical emergencies in Worcester and 35 other cities nationwide.