Oxford has experienced a significant change economically, and city officials are adapting to the shift since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses, schools and restaurants across the U.S. were shut down for months in 2020. The economic effects were substantial as millions were left without a job and without income.

For smaller cities like Oxford that heavily rely on the presence of students for a significant portion of their business during the school year, the effects were vast, according to Sam Perry, Oxford’s Community Development Director. 

“You know, it was a very dark time,” Perry said. “I think, you know, being a university community, businesses really struggled because there was a lot less foot traffic. There was a chilling effect.” 

According to Seth Cropenbaker, Oxford’s Economic Development Specialist, the pandemic hastened an economic shift in the city. 

“Hybrid learning really accelerated,” Cropenbaker said. “If students don’t need to be in Oxford to complete their education, that certainly has an effect. The uptown economy is not based in e-commerce.” 

According to Cropenbaker, the increase in online education has resulted in a decrease in activity on weekends from students as opposed to pre-pandemic. 

 ”If you’re able to schedule your courses such that you only have class on Monday-Wednesday, every day becomes a four day weekend,” Cropenbaker said. “It makes traveling to Chicago, Columbus, St. Louis that much easier.”

Additionally, Cropenbaker said the use of delivery services in Oxford such as DoorDash and UberEats increased as a result of the pandemic. 

“I’m not suggesting those companies weren’t already established,” Cropenbaker said. “But I think it just accelerated their market share, in Oxford and the number of students who are utilizing those services.” 

Despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19, the city was able to provide support for local businesses which provided stability and results.

Uptown Oxford has seen numerous new businesses open in recent years. Restaurants such as OxVegas Chicken, Calendula and Cocina Latina, as well as a new vintage clothing store, Flow State Vintage, have all opened uptown since 2023. 

 ”The city took direct action and directly injected money through our grant program, but then indirectly just helping broker getting the goods, the support, the services that existed to, our local businesses,” Cropenbaker said. “They had enough on their plate, you know, for them to handle the day-to-day and figure out how they’re navigating all that.”

Perry said the city began to look into reforming and analyzing Oxford’s economy as a result of the pandemic. 

“Oxford has historically been, and enjoyed a relatively stable economy because of the university,” Perry said. “The city has not had to have a very active role in economic incentives and regulatory reform, procedure reform, that kind of stuff. And so I think the pandemic kind of reminded us that we should take a look at some of those things which we were already starting to do.”

The city came together and constructed a comprehensive community vision which was adopted in 2023, according to Perry. The plan aims to address the creation of housing opportunities for residents of Oxford that align more suitably with local household income. Additionally, the city is looking at regulations and zoning to improve growth and support for local businesses. 

“We’re hoping to be done by August with a draft of a zoning and subdivision code and to do an economic and strategic plan,” Perry said. “That’s being done by the city manager’s office.”

As Oxford continues to adjust to life post-COVID, Cropenbaker said he remains aware of the issues that face the community, despite the significant progress that’s been made. 

“ Yeah, I think largely the economy has rebounded,” Cropenbaker said. “I do think that theme of COVID amplifying or accelerating change, we still see that. So I think the the issues, the stress and the strain that businesses feel when school’s not in session by lack of customers and lack of employees, that’s only heightened.”

Perry remains optimistic about the opportunities in Oxford for local businesses to establish themselves and thrive.

“I’m excited for the possibility for the future, for businesses to want to come here,” Perry said. “My department and myself are looking for input on whatever I can control to make it easier for people to own and operate and start businesses here.”