Durham ranks #3 in BusinessWeek's best cities for a recession

In more stable economic times, this latest best-of might seem like damning by faint praise. In today's very uncertain times, though, it's welcome news -- a reiteration on the national stage of a point we've made here at BCR frequently about the health care, education and research job base in the Bull City.

As a commenter here at BCR noted, BusinessWeek has ranked Durham as the #3 city in the U.S. to live during a recession. The Bull City ranked behind Arlington, Va. and Washington, D.C. in the rankings. No other North Carolina cities made the ranking; Durham was considered independently of Raleigh.

As BusinessWeek puts it:

Durham, home of Duke University, is part of the world-famous Research Triangle, along with Raleigh, the site of North Carolina State University and Chapel Hill, home of the University of North Carolina. The residents of Durham will have significant protection in a recession. It's a college town that's close to other economically vibrant college towns and is commuting distance to state government jobs in Raleigh, the state capital. The Durham area also has six hospitals and the Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the world.

BW calculates that 45.5% of jobs in Durham are in what are considered to be relatively "safe" industries in a downturn. According to their calculations, health care represents 18% of employment and education 14%, followed closely professional, scientific and technical positions.

Comments

[cw]

Wow, that's quite an old picture they have of Durham.

[Allen]

It does seem very 1960's. I don't really dig the College Town ordeal.

[KeepDurhamDifferent!]

I can't help but think that Durham's low cost of living (read: affordable housing) helps us in this regard.

This is not to say you can't live for cheap in S. Raleigh, but there are a lot more cheap places to live in Durham that are both ped-friendly and spanish-friendly (if, for example, you are illegal and trying to scratch out a living in the dirty D town). Find your cool, man.

[Erik]

I have to admit I'm a little skeptical about this ranking. While it may be true for those in the health/education/technology sectors and it may even be true that 45% of residents work in those types of fields, I worry about the other 55%.

As we all know, Durham is an extremely diverse city in terms of demographics, economic disparity, etc. While the outside world seems to view Durham as a home to intellectuals and a relatively low cost of living (both of which are true), I wonder what this recession will do to the constructions workers, the landscapers, the caretakers. What might a recession do to crime and gang-related activity in Durham? I'm not suggesting it will necessarily increase - I really have no idea. I just hope that local officials realize that the half of Durham that is ignored in national publications may REALLY feel the full brunt of an economic downturn and that they take steps to make sure those citizens continue to have access to jobs, health care, and a decent public transportation system (note to officials: Durham Station will be great - but how about increasing funding for the ACTUAL bus system too).

I'd be curious if there has been any studies done more locally to see what effects these times will have on the non-Duke, non-hospital, non-RTP folks.

[MamieStoker'sDurhamFlophouse]

I think you are quite right to wonder, Erik. There may be a level of people recession-proofed because of their jobs but, in sheer numbers, an awful lot of people in Durham who live right on the edge between barely getting by and poverty are going to fall off into the abyss. Which is why I took the following press release seriously when it was sent out yesterday. I am not affiliated with urban Ministries at all, but I think we are going to need them in the year or two ahead:

RBAN MINISTRIES OF DURHAM’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY IS TIMELY REMINDER THAT HOMELESSNESS WILL INCREASE DURING ECONOMIC CRISIS

Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14:43

Events mark anniversary and call to action to businesses, civic organizations and citizens to help rising number of families and individuals in desperate need of food, shelter, clothing and supportive services

Durham – Urban Ministries of Durham’s 25th Anniversary, October 23-25, could not come at a better time. With winter approaching and the economic crisis worsening, the organization is gearing up for an unprecedented number of homeless in Durham, as well as individuals who are not homeless but struggling to meet their basic needs of food and clothing.

“The current economic condition of our country is pushing many people into homelessness, and Durham will be no exception,” said Greg Rowland, Urban Ministries’ vice-chair. “We are committed to increasing our capacity to provide food, clothing, shelter and recovery to everyone who walks through our door. Our 25th anniversary celebration will not only pay tribute to the hundreds of businesses, civic organizations and citizens =2 0 who have helped fight homelessness in Durham for the past 25 years but also serve to educate the entire community in how they can help, particularly at this critical time.”

According to Rowland, Urban Ministries saw a 26% increase in canned food item distribution between January 2007 and 2008. “We saw this same trend in the number of bed-nights and pieces of clothing distributed. These numbers will definitely rise as we look to 2009.”

Rowland added that the series of events are designed to inform and inspire a new understanding that homelessness affects all of us in Durham.

On Thursday, October 23 at 7pm at downtown Durham’s Carolina Theater, Urban Ministries will host the film “The Pursuit of Happyness,” starring Will Smith in his Academy Award-nominated performance as Chris Gardener, a salesman turned stock broker, who with his young son learned the heartbreak and challenges of homelessness. Open to the public, the film’s price of admission is a canned good and toiletries that will help stock the Urban Ministries Food Pantry. “In one week, we distribute over 2700 items of food,” said Rowland. “We project our need will grow as more and 20 more families find they can’t make it until the end of the month with the food in their own pantries. They’ll come to us, and we need to be ready.” The evening will begin with an interview fifteen minutes before the movie.

On Friday morning, October 24 at Golden Belt Arts Complex in downtown Durham, urban developers Scientific Properties will host “Rebuilding Lives: How to Help the Homeless,” a breakfast panel discussion moderated by WUNC’s host of “The State of Things,” Frank Stasio. “Our goal is to discuss how homelessness affects the good health of our inner cities, with special emphasis on Durham and its urban renaissance,” said Stasio. “As we continue to enjoy Durham’s growing reputation as a center for arts and culture and as we work hard to attract visitors and tourists to downtown, it is critical we also identify and tackle the issues that homelessness creates and help get the homeless the services they need.”
At 7 pm, “Strings Attached” will feature folk musician Mary Gauthier at St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church, 403 East Main Street. For tickets, go to www.stphilipsdurham.org.

On Saturday, October 25, Urban Ministries will host “Urban Ministries Service Day” at the shelter’s location at 410 Liberty Street. This day of volunteerism from 6 am to 1 pm will invite the community to beautify and improve the building that’s home to over 100 people daily. A community potluck dinner and festivities will follow.

“If you can paint, sort clothes, stock food shelves, or help with landscaping, we want you to join us,” said Rowland. “We’re encouraging individuals, civic clubs, sororities and fraternities, soccer teams, anyone and everyone to roll up their sleeves, take a mop, broom or rake and help make Urban Ministries shine for the busy days ahead. Everyone deserves a clean, comfortable place to eat and sleep, and we know Durham is up to the task.”

Rowland added that Urban Ministries is honored that both Durham and Durham County have proclaimed the week of October 20th Urban Ministries Week in Durham and Durham County. “While this is a great acknowledgement of our anniversary, we recognize that Urban Ministries’ work will continue long after this special week has concluded,” added Rowland. “We want homelessness to be in the minds and hearts of everyone every day of the year. Together, we can end homelessness in Durham.”
For more information and a complete listing of times and dates for Urban Ministries’ 25th Anniversary Celebration, please call 919- 682-0538, extension 25. Also visit www.umdurham.org.

About Urban Ministries
Founded in 1983, Urban Ministries of Durham, Inc. is a non-profit, faith-based organization recognized for excellence in serving the emergency needs of poor people. It provides food, clothing, shelter and supportive services to anyone in need. Urban Ministries is located in two buildings: the Urban Ministries Center and the Durham Community Shelter, located at Liberty Street between Queen Street and Dillard Street in downtown Durham. For more information about volunteering or donating money, food, clothing or toiletries, go to www.umdurham.org or call 919-682-0538, extension 25.

[Bull City Rising]

@Erik & DBCooper: You're right to worry about this. That said, I think there's relevance to the "other 55%" in the sense that I suspect many of them are in the service sector.

Durham's strong education/health care/scientific job base should mean that folks are less likely to stop eating out, buying things at retail, etc. than in communities that don't have as recession-resistant an economy. In turn, that preserves jobs that might otherwise be lost.

That said, to the extent we're seeing job losses in the Triangle right now, many are in skilled manufacturing -- a couple of shutdowns of plants producing parts for automobiles, and I think some electronics mfg. in either Franklin or Granville Co. recently had layoffs. Ditto GSK, which has seen manufacturing as well as some R&D jobs gone. The manufacturing part of the economy -- which fits squarely in the 55% -- is likely to take a hit.

[GreenLantern]

I know for a fact that many R&D lab contractors will be let go at my RTP company over the next quarter. We are not involved in health care. When things start to improve, expect temporary agencies to do a brisk business with all the highly qualified clients they represent will be flooding the market. Local governments will be expected to provide more and more incentives to keep jobs here as much as attracting new ones.

[JDC]

Is that seriously a press release?

[hurley]

The demand for unskilled labor in Durham is definitely down. I walk through Duke Manor Apts to and from the lot at the old Best store and there's definitely fewer kids running around and cars in the parking lots than a year ago.

I'll start worrying if Duke delays it's big hospital expansion that they're demolishing the Bell Building to construct.

(Did you know that the Bell Building is the reason Duke gets enormous grants from the government (and pharm and biotech companies) for medical research? When it was built in 1948 it was the most advanced medical research building in the world and scientists sick of filling out work orders for every modification of their Victorian work places said "screw this" and came to Duke.)