David Robinson: For business, growing population is a game changer By David Robinson News Business Reporter Aug 13, 2021 Aug 13, 2021 Updated Mar 18, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Buffalo Niagara's population is growing for the first time in 50 years – and that change is going to turn the region’s economy on its head.kAm$:?46 E96 `hf_D[ =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D 92G6 925 E@ <?@H 9@H E@ 86E 3J :? 2 D9C:?<:?8 >2C<6E] %92E >62?E DE62=:?8 4FDE@>6CD 7C@> E96 4@>A6E:E:@? @C 6IA2?5:?8 :?E@ ?6H >2C<6ED]k^AmkAm}@H E96J 42? =62C? H92E :E’D =:<6 E@ 36 :? 2 >2C<6E E92E’D 8C@H:?8] |@C6 4FDE@>6CD] |@C6 DA6?5:?8] |@C6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D] p?5 A6C92AD ;FDE 2D :>A@CE2?E[ 2 492?46 E@ D965 E96 A6C46AE:@? 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Supreme Court appoints panel to decide if gun ban lawsuits should consolidate ‘Winning at all costs:’ Trump wraps himself in UFC’s bareknuckle image kAmqFE :>286 :D @?=J 2 D>2== A2CE @7 E96 D62 492?86 E92E 4@>6D 7C@> 2 C:D:?8 A@AF=2E:@?]k^Am Read the full story from News Staff Reporter Caitlin Dewey Ellen Przepasniak kAmu@C 92=7 2 46?EFCJ[ qF772=@ }:282C2 3FD:?6DD6D 92G6 925 E@ =62C? 9@H E@ =:G6 H:E9 =6DD]k^AmkAm$E@C6D 925 76H6C 4FDE@>6CD 7C@> @?6 J62C E@ E96 ?6IE] p?J E:>6 2 ?6H 3FD:?6DD @A6?65 E92E D6CG65 =@42= 4@?DF>6CD[ E96 @?=J H2J 7@C E96> E@ DFCG:G6 H2D E@ DE62= 4FDE@>6CD 2H2J 7C@> E96:C 4@>A6E:E@CD]k^Am kAmqFD:?6DD6D 92G6 D4C2>3=65 7@C J62CD E@ 7:?5 6?@F89 H@C<6CD – 2?5 4@>A2?:6D E92E 4@?D:56C65 >@G:?8 96C6 @7E6? 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