Strictly Business

From Business Today:

Another sign of the changing demographics and shopping patterns in Buffalo: Pitt Petri, the high-end store selling china, silver, crystal and other elegant items is closing it's store on Delaware Avenue. The days when shops catering to the wealthy lined Delaware are long gone. The street is changing into an attractive office location. Pitt Petri catered to the city's "carriage trade" for 87 years, but changing shopping patterns finally forced the closing. The building, beside the Buffalo Club, will become office space and home to Plaza Group, a commercial real estate developer.

Should non-profit groups be exempted from paying prevailing wages (union wages) on projects that they receive tax favored financing for? A county law that allowed that was not renewed, and County Executive Chris Collins wants to have it approved again. Non-profits - including schools - have used the reduced costs to help with $122 million in building projects around the region.

HealthNow, the parent company of the local BlueCross BlueShield health insurer, is cutting 45 jobs in claims and billing as it uses more technology. The company said it is not a cost-cutting move, and it has about 60 job openings. 

Manufacturing in the region slowed in December, after a small increase in November. A drop in hiring and new orders hurt the sector. 

Who is getting hired, promoted and honored?