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 Prefer us on Google Learn More 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… Franklin County administrator to step down Social Security COLA 2027: How much could your benefits increase? Trump to begin sending $500 ACA refund checks. Here's where they're going Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems 1 killed, 4 injured in crash involving Abingdon school bus after football game Rocky Mount asks residents to voluntarily conserve water Judge Michael Urbanski to retire after long tenure on the federal bench Boones Mill obtains grant for new park project Florida's flop, Alabama lead college football Week 5 winners and losers Sale of Hotel Roanoke Conference Center finalized as Virginia Tech prepares to sell whole building David Hoffmann: A better chorus for the communities we serve Federal grant to fund Route 122 improvement study at Smith Mountain Lake Is our admiration for the Amish overlooking real harm? | The Ethical Life podcast Tri-Area Community Health announces new behavioral health director Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems 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^AmkAm~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 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. Watch Now: Related Video The 10 safest cities in the United States A1 Minute! September 18, 2026: Maymont’s Bier-Garden returns; Virginia Wine Month; Top Five A1 Minute! September 18, 2026: Maymont’s Bier-Garden returns; Virginia Wine Month; Top Five A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond August 26, 2026: Fall Festival Guide 2026 August 26, 2026: Fall Festival Guide 2026
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.
A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond
A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond