How many jobs will the stimulus create in the North Country?

There’s a lot of debate over just how meaningful these numbers are, but the White House has offered estimates of what the stimulus package will do for each congressional district.

In the 20th NY district, which includes a big chunk of the eastern Adirondacks, the Champlain Valley, and the Glens Falls area, the jobs benefit is placed at 8,000.

The biggest population chunk in the 20th is further south and in a ring around the Capital District (it’s a weirdly gerrymandered district), so it’s unclear how much of that would trickle north.

In the 23rd NY district, which is far more North Country specific, the White House puts the number at 7,800.

The 24th NY district, which includes Old Forge and a big (but mostly people-free) chunk of the western Adirondacks, stands to gain 7,600 jobs.

I know, I know – these numbers are big puffy political promises at this point. And because the White House describes these as jobs that will be created or “saved” it will be hard to yardstick success.

What do you think? If the stimulus does work that well, will it be enough to soften the downturn in the region?

Tags: economy