Move in day also a kickoff for increased business

Between Thursday and the end of the weekend thousands of seagulls will be flocking back to campus with boxes and bags in hand for move in day.  A healthy sign for local businesses.

Businesses along Route 13 in Salisbury are gearing up for the influx of thousands of students that were absent for the summer.  Students that will be throwing greenbacks to restaurants, gas stations, clothing stores and more.

“The students spending alone counts for $90 million a year to the local economy.  And the Route 13 corridor receives the lions share of that because a lot of these kids are walking,” said Bill Chambers, the president and CEO for the Salisbury area chamber of commerce.

That equates to about $5 million in sales tax for the City of Salisbury during the fall and spring semesters.

The other impact is the hundreds of jobs that are created in the city.

“For every on-campus job, one and a half off campus jobs are created.  So it is a real boost to the economy in strategic ways,” said Chambers.   “We average a lower unemployment rate than the national average and the state average.  So it’s a real economic boom having the university and Wor-Wic here, as well.”

And businesses we spoke with say they are preparing for the larger crowds as early as Thursday morning.

“I’m excepting to see a lot more people, especially tomorrow morning, because everybody will move in early in the morning.  And then once they’re settled they might think, ‘hey, let’s go get some ice cream,’ said Rachel Eurh, the assistant manager for Island Creamery in Salisbury.

Move in for about 1,300 Salisbury University students begins early Thursday morning and it kicks off a whole day of festivities.  A total of 8,700 students will be moving in by the end of the weekend.