Analysis: As Covid surges, the Buffalo Niagara economy is at a crossroads By David Robinson News Business Reporter Nov 11, 2020 Nov 11, 2020 Updated Sep 21, 2023 0 National Guardsmen direct traffic at a drive-up Covid-19 test site operated by the state in the Cobblestone District. Derek Gee / Buffalo News Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By David Robinson News Business Reporter The battered Buffalo Niagara economy is at a tipping point.kAm(:E9 E96 qF772=@ }:282C2 C68:@?’D C64@G6CJ 7C@> E96 r@G:5\`h =@4<5@H? CF??:?8 @FE @7 DE62> 2D DF>>6C EFC?65 E@ 72==[ E96 =2DE E9:?8 H6 ?66565 H2D 2 DA:<6 :? 42D6D 2?5 ?6H C6DEC:4E:@?D @? 3FD:?6DD6D 2=C625J @A6C2E:?8 @? E96 6586]k^AmkAmqFE E92E’D 6I24E=J H92E’D 92AA6?:?8[ ?@H E92E >F49 @7 tC:6 r@F?EJ 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^J6==@H\56D:8?2E:@?\AFED\>@DE\@7\6C:6\4@F?EJ\F?56C\?6H\C6DEC:4E:@?D^2CE:4=607h4f2`b6\aa44\``63\gc5c\e7ca4b7c4ha5]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmEFC?65 J6==@Hk^2m F?56C E96 DE2E6’D >:4C@4=FDE6C 2AAC@249 E@ 4@?EC@==:?8 E96 4@C@?2G:CFD @FE3C62<]k^Am kAmu@C ?@H[ E96 C6DEC:4E:@?D 2C6 DH66A:?8[ 4@G6C:?8 >@DE @7 E96 4@F?EJ’D 3:886DE 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 3FE 72:C=J =:>:E65] %96 >@DE D6G6C6 =:>:E2E:@?D 72== @? 2=C625J 92C5\9:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^C6DE2FC2?ED\H:E9\C2K@C\E9:?\>2C8:?D\8C2AA=6\H:E9\G6CJ\G6CJ\E@F89\C6DEC:4E:@?D^2CE:4=605bh4c7bc\aa33\``63\3f5b\2bce727b4fed]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm32CD 2?5 C6DE2FC2?EDk^2m E92E >FDE =:>:E :?5@@C D62E:?8 E@ 7@FC A6@A=6 A6C E23=6 2?5 4=@D6 3J >:5?:89E]k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: Two new restaurants, Panda Fest, lawncare and acting broke As drought worsens Concord asks customers to conserve water Commissioners Notebook: Board discusses opioid settlement funds; revisions to Emergency Operations Plan Kannapolis Police: Teenager shot and killed Monday NC facing 'wild west' crossroads with cannabis usage, regulations Cabarrus Center at 5: From idea to impact, downtown hub reshapes local business landscape Buying a home in Concord costs far more than renting, a new study finds Concord named among nation’s best places to live in 2026 Historical marker in Rowan County honors nation’s first Black credit union Kannapolis will host document shredding event Logan Community among two dozen added to Historic Places list Wonders win on scoreboard, but all winners in Jonathan Foundation game Second arrest made in Rowan fentanyl trafficking investigation UPDATE: US military seizes Iranian-flagged cargo ship Cabarrus Health Alliance opens office at Brown Mill kAm“xE’D 2 9@=5:?8 A2EE6C?[ 2D @AA@D65 E@ 5@:?8 D@>6E9:?8 >F49 H@CD6[” D2:5 uC65 u=@DD[ 2 $&}*\qF772=@ $E2E6 64@?@>:DE]k^Am kAm“x7 E9:D H@C<D[ :E H:== 96=A E96 64@?@>J DE2J @? :ED 766E 2?5 <66A A6@A=6 H@C<:?8[” u=@DD D2:5] “(92E E96J’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 5@ :D E@ 7:?5 2 >:55=6 8C@F?5[ 3642FD6 E96 @E96C E9:?8 H@F=5 36 E@ 4=@D6 6G6CJE9:?8 5@H?]”k^Am kAm%92E’D E96 C62= 52?86C – E92E E96 DFC86 :? 42D6D H:== 4@?E:?F6[ 2?5 E96 J6==@H K@?6D H:== EFC? @C2?86 @C[ 6G6? H@CD6[ C65] x7 E92E 92AA6?D[ E96 C6DEC:4E:@?D H:== 364@>6 6G6? >@C6 5C24@?:2? 2?5 BF:4<=J F?5@ >F49 @7 E96 AC@8C6DD E96 C68:@? 92D >256 4C2H=:?8 EH@\E9:C5D @7 E96 H2J 324< 7C@> E96 ;@3 =@DD6D 42FD65 3J E96 r@G:5\`h C646DD:@?]k^Am kAm“(6 H@F=5 36 E2<:?8 2 AC6EEJ =2C86 DE6A 324<H2C5[” D2:5 yF=:6 p??2 v@=63:6HD<:[ 2 r2?:D:FD r@==686 64@?@>:DE]k^AmkAmx7 H6 8@ 7C@> J6==@H E@ @C2?86[ 9:89\C:D< 3FD:?6DD6D[ DF49 2D 92:C D2=@?D[ 8J>D 2?5 >@G:6 E962E6CD H:== 4=@D6] $49@@=D H:== 8@ @?=:?6] #6DE2FC2?ED H@F=5 E2<6 2?@E96C 3:8 9:E[ H:E9 :?5@@C 5:?:?8 D9FE 5@H?[ 7@C4:?8 E96> E@ C6=J @? @FE5@@C D62E:?8 – 2 492==6?8:?8 AC@A@D:E:@? H:E9 E96 }@G6>36C 49:== 4@>:?8 2E D@>6 A@:?E – @C @? E2<6@FE 2?5 56=:G6CJ]k^AmkAm%92E 4@F=5 =625 E@ ;@3 =@DD6D 6IE6?D:G6 6?@F89 E92E :E 4@F=5 AFD9 E96 C64@G6CJ 324< E@ H96C6 :E H2D :? yF?6 @C yF=J[ H96? H6 925 @?=J C682:?65 23@FE 92=7 @7 E96 ;@3D =@DE 5FC:?8 E96 =@4<5@H?[ v@=63:6HD<: 6DE:>2E6D]k^Am kAm%96 H@CDE 42D6 H@F=5 36 :7 E96 @FE3C62< EFC?D 2 >:4C@4=FDE6C C65] %92E H@F=5 AFE E96 A2CED @7 E96 C68:@? 2=>@DE 324< E@ H96C6 :E H2D :? E96 DAC:?8[ H:E9 ?@?6DD6?E:2= 3FD:?6DD6D 4=@D65]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm~7 4@FCD6[ E96 :562 369:?5 E96 >:4C@4=FDE6C DEC2E68J :D E92E :E :D E2C86E65[ 2==@H:?8 @77:4:2=D E@ <66A @A6? A2CED @7 E96 C68:@? H96C6 E96 42D6=@25 :D =@H6C[ H9:=6 4C24<:?8 5@H? @? 2C62D H96C6 E96 @FE3C62< :D >@DE D6G6C6]k^Am kAm%92E :D?’E 92AA6?:?8 96C6 – 2E =62DE ?@E J6E] %96 D4@A6 @7 E96 FADH:?8 :? 42D6D AC@>AE65 @77:4:2=D E@ 232?5@? E96 E2C86E65 2AAC@249 2E E96 4@C6 @7 E96 >:4C@4=FDE6C DEC2E68J :? 72G@C @7 H92E r@F?EJ tI64FE:G6 |2C< !@=@?42CK 42==65 2 “>24C@4=FDE6C” 7@4FD 2:>65 2E 6?E:C6 >F?:4:A2=:E:6D :? 2? 2C62 E92E 4@G6CD 2== 3FE E96 D@FE96C?>@DE 2?5 62DE6C?>@DE DF3FC3D] %92E’D 3642FD6 E96 4FCC6?E @FE3C62< :D D@ H:56DAC625 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 32D65[ C2E96C E92? =:?<65 E@ DA64:7:4 6G6?ED]k^Am kAmx7 E96 C68:@? E2<6D 255:E:@?2= DE6AD E@H2C5 2 D9FE5@H?[ E96 64@?@>:4 :>A24E H:== 56A6?5 @? H96E96C E96 @C2?86 2?5 C65 56D:8?2E:@?D 2C6 ?2CC@H 2?5 4@G6C 72:C=J D>2== 2C62D[ @C :7 E96J 2C6 H:56DAC625[ 2D E96 J6==@H 56D:8?2E:@? :D ?@H]k^AmkAm(92E >2<6D E9:D 2== D@ 4@?46C?:?8 :D E92E :E’D 92AA6?:?8 2E 2 E:>6 H96? E96 C68:@?’D C63@F?5 7C@> E96 DAC:?8 =@4<5@H? 2=C625J 92D DE2==65] (6’G6 C64@G6C65 2 =:EE=6 =6DD E92? EH@\E9:C5D @7 E96 ;@3D E92E H6C6 =@DE H96? E96 @FE3C62< DE2CE65[ 2?5 E96 A246 @7 E92E C63@F?5 G:CEF2==J 92=E65 5FC:?8 $6AE6>36C] %92E’D 2? :?5:42E:@? E92E E96 4@?E:?F65 DECF88=6D 72465 3J E96 EC2G6= 2?5 C6DE2FC2?E :?5FDEC:6D[ 2=@?8 H:E9 DE@C6D[ 2C6?’E 8@:?8 E@ 3C:?8 324< 2== @7 E96 ;@3D =@DE 2E E96 @FED6E @7 E96 A2?56>:4 2D EC2G6= 2?5 D9@AA:?8 923:ED 92G6 492?865]k^Am kAm%9@D6 4@?DF>6C 923:ED >2J E2<6 2?@E96C F?72G@C23=6 EFC? H:E9 E96 =2E6DE @FE3C62<]k^AmkAm“x7 2== @7 2 DF556? E9:D 86ED E@ 36 H@CD6 – 2?5 E92E’D H92E 6G6CJ@?6 :D 27C2:5 @7 – :E H@?’E 36 ;FDE E96 8@G6C?>6?E E92E D9FED E9:?8D 5@H?] !6@A=6 H:== ;FDE DE2J 9@>6[” u=@DD D2:5] “%92E’D 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 2 56G2DE2E:?8 67764E[ 2?5 :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 92C5 E@ 86E A6@A=6 324<]”k^Am kAm(9:=6 E96 C68:@?’D C6A@CE65 F?6>A=@J>6?E C2E6 @7 e]hT :? $6AE6>36C H2D 2 3:8 :>AC@G6>6?E 7C@> 2 ;@3=6DD C2E6 @7 >@C6 E92? `_T :? pF8FDE[ E96 AC@8C6DD :D >:D=625:?8 3642FD6 E96 5C@A H2D 6?E:C6=J 5F6 E@ 2 D9C:?<:?8 H@C<7@C46]k^Am kAm(96? A6@A=6 5C@A @FE @7 E96 H@C<7@C46[ :E’D @7E6? 2 D:8? E92E E96J 2C6 5:D4@FC2865 23@FE 7:?5:?8 2 ?6H ;@3 2?5 92G6 DE@AA65 =@@<:?8] xE’D 2=D@ =:<6=J E92E @E96C H@C<6CD 92G6 DE@AA65 =@@<:?8 7@C ;@3D 3642FD6 E96J’G6 564:565 E@ DE2J 9@>6 7@C E96 E:>6 36:?8 E@ 36 H:E9 E96:C 49:=5C6? 27E6C D49@@=D D9:7E65 E@ 2 9J3C:5 =62C?:?8 >@56=]k^Am kAmv@=63:6HD<: 2?5 96C 76==@H r2?:D:FD 64@?@>:DED v6@C86 !2=F>3@ 2?5 |2C< +2A@C@HD<:[ :? 2 ?6H 2?2=JD:D @7 6>A=@J>6?E 52E2[ 6DE:>2E6 E92E E96 C68:@?’D ECF6 F?6>A=@J>6?E C2E6 :D 23@G6 `_T]k^Am kAmp?@E96C[ >@C6 E:>6=J[ :?5:42E@C[ 2=D@ :D D6?5:?8 2 EC@F3=:?8 D:8?2=] %96 ?F>36C @7 =@42= H@C<6CD 7:=:?8 7@C F?6>A=@J>6?E 36?67:ED 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 ;F>A65 E@ 2 D:I\H66< 9:89 5FC:?8 E96 7:?2= H66< @7 ~4E@36C] (66<=J ;@3=6DD 4=2:>D DE:== 2C6 CF??:?8 23@FE E9C66 E:>6D 9:896C E92? 2 J62C 28@ – 2 D:8? E92E ;@3 =@DD6D 4@?E:?F6 E@ 36 2 3:8 AC@3=6> 7@C 2? 64@?@>J 2E 2 4C@DDC@25D]k^AmkAm(9:49 H2J H6 8@ H:== 56A6?5 @? H96E96C H6 42? C6G6CD6 E96 DFC86 :? 42D6D 2?5 <66A J6==@H 7C@> EFC?:?8 @C2?86 @C C65]k^Am kAm“x7 H6’C6 DF446DD7F=[ x 5@?’E E9:?< :E H:== 92G6 E92E >F49 @7 2? :>A24E[” v@=63:6HD<: D2:5] “~C2?86 2?5 C65 H:== 92G6 2 >F49 8C62E6C :>A24E[ 6DA64:2==J :? E6C>D @7 ;@3D]”k^Am 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story David Robinson: As yellow turns to orange, fragile Buffalo Niagara economy takes new hit The Buffalo Niagara economy on Friday will veer off the road to recovery. From devastation to cooperation: Life in a Covid yellow zone around New York In interviews with local officials around the state already living in the kind of yellow zone now in place in Buffalo and surrounding communit… David Robinson: As schools reopened, the rest of the local job market stalled The back-to-school push kept the Buffalo Niagara job market going during September. David Robinson: How coronavirus is making big changes in Buffalo Niagara economy A little more than six months into the Covid-19 recession, it is clear that the currents that have badly battered the Buffalo Niagara job mark… Watch Now: Related Video Unable to play video AP top stories for April 21 Trump Tells Companies to Skip Their Tariff Refunds Trump Tells Companies to Skip Their Tariff Refunds Fuel prices driving up food costs, straining supply chains, says Chilliwack grocer Fuel prices driving up food costs, straining supply chains, says Chilliwack grocer Former ally implies Trump is the Antichrist Former ally implies Trump is the Antichrist
David Robinson: As yellow turns to orange, fragile Buffalo Niagara economy takes new hit The Buffalo Niagara economy on Friday will veer off the road to recovery.
From devastation to cooperation: Life in a Covid yellow zone around New York In interviews with local officials around the state already living in the kind of yellow zone now in place in Buffalo and surrounding communit…
David Robinson: As schools reopened, the rest of the local job market stalled The back-to-school push kept the Buffalo Niagara job market going during September.
David Robinson: How coronavirus is making big changes in Buffalo Niagara economy A little more than six months into the Covid-19 recession, it is clear that the currents that have badly battered the Buffalo Niagara job mark…
