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ECONOMY: University’s huge impact

Nearly 1,400 students marked the end of a journey during commencement at the State University of New York at Fredonia on Saturday. Not only did those graduates celebrate, so did their families and friends.

Businesses also did a little celebrating as well. Visitors, especially those at the start and end of the university’s year, bring big bucks to our region. According to a recent study done by the State University at Buffalo, $4.39 million is spent in the Dunkirk-Fredonia area at restaurants, hotels, shops and attractions. A majority of the money goes to lodging – $1.5 million – while another $1 million gets spent at restaurants.

So while the area sees a slight boom, thanks to the recent guests, we also see the loss of the students. That group accounts for $47.7 million spent – off-campus – by the nearly 5,000 who attend the university.

Overall, Fredonia’s footprint on the local economy is huge. About $157 million is the university’s impact on Dunkirk-Fredonia while the impact on Western New York tops $204 million.

On Friday morning at 11, the study will be discussed further at the incubator in Dunkirk. It is of high interest to our area and county leaders – as well as those in the business community.

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