CHICO, Calif. - Chico State will go virtual this upcoming fall just like all other Cal States, and businesses around the city are struggling to make ends meet.
"Hopefully like more students would come back the coming semesters, maybe business would pick up a bit," said Bruce Chang, owner of Peeking's Restaurant in Downtown Chico relies on students to eat at his restaurant, especially since it's right across the street from the campus.
"I was gonna reopen the dining next month when the semester starts," said Chang. "But right now they just shut down everything again."
And the city understands just how important Chico State students are to the economy of the city.
"Chico State students play a pivotal role, really a vital role in this community," said City Manager Mark Orme.
It's not just money the city and businesses are missing out on either.
"I don't know how they're going to do it," said Phil Feser, Director of Rush Personnel Services. "All these employers out there that are just trying to keep their business going, they are more jobs than we've had in a couple of years. It's been pretty much non-stop."
The city losing the influx of students makes it difficult.
"They are really the lifeblood through the fall and spring months of this community. Not only with filling jobs that are necessary for retail and other types of services, but also the economic generation of them being here is just tremendous on our community," said Orme.
There is no indication yet of when students will be allowed back on campus.