The Adirondack Economy - It Could Be Worse

There has been much written lately about the current state of the Adirondack Park economy. The current recession and the recent release of the Adirondack Park Regional Assessment Project (APRAP) Report has spurred this recent debate. As I mentioned in my first post The Adirondack Economy - A Local Initiative, the APRAP report can be interpreted in several different ways. Five different people could read it and come away with an equal  number of  opinions on the current state of the Adirondack Economy.


John Sheehan , the Director of  Communications for the Adirondack Council recently opened up a fire storm of criticism from residents and business owners by claiming in a Albany Times Union Op Ed that the Adirondack economy "...is one of the most robust rural areas in the Northeastern United States." This statement was based upon an interpretation of the APRAP and comparisons to demographic data in other rural areas of the state outside the Park. His opinion piece unleashed a torrent of responses in print and on the web.  While Mr. Sheehan may have made some good points, the response to his interpretation of the data demonstrates that the economy of the Adirondack Park has and will continue to be a sensitive subject for Adirondackers. 


What is evident in the data is that parts of the Adirondacks seem to be doing well statistically when compared to other rural areas of the state outside the Park. There are also areas within the Park that are not doing well, have relatively high unemployment and low median household income. Collectively however, it can be said that the Adirondack Park is fairing quite well - statistically. 


What is not seen in the data is the day-to-day struggle by almost every community to retain and attract residents and jobs. I have consulted for numerous communities inside and outside the Park, and this struggle is the biggest issue raised by residents and community leaders in almost every community. 

In my opinion, the perception of our economic situation is likely exacerbated by the additional regulatory controls within the Park. While the true implications of the Adirondack Park Agency on the economy of the Adirondacks is a topic for another post, it is worth noting here that many people blame the APA for the current state of the economy. In addition to the APA, there are several very active environmental organizations such as the Adirondack Council that also become the target of blame. In other and more depressed regions of the state, there is no one entity to blame. In the Park, the APA and environmental organizations are convenient targets.


While sections of the Adirondack Park are having more difficulty then others in attracting residents and employers, and are clearly being outpaced by the more successful regions of the state, it could be worse. Yes, Adirondack communities can and should do better. What does the Adirondacks have that other rural and disadvantaged regions of the state do not? 


We have the "Adirondacks" and this fact needs to be used to continually improve our economy instead of an excuse of why we are not doing well.

What's in a Name?

Roaring Brook Falls - Adirondack Mountains

If you go anywhere in the US and say the word 'Adirondacks,' most people will immediately have visions of beautiful mountains, the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, crystal clear lakes and yes, those surprisingly comfortable chairs. The Adirondacks has always and continues to be extremely popular for visiting, living and for marketing purposes. If you Google 'Adirondacks Mountains' you will get over a 1 million hits.

The popularity of the Adirondacks is also evident by the number of business residing outside of the park and use the word Adirondacks in to market their services and products. The Adirondack Trust Company is one example. This company is headquartered in Saratoga Springs and actually does not have a single branch within the Adirondack Park. Driving around the perimeter of the Adirondack Park you see businesses and services such as real estate agencies, gift stores, plumbers, electricians, and a pool and spa company.

Do not forget that Adirondack chair. A search on the internet for 'Adirondack Chairs' turns up almost 1/2 million hits. One site is for a company located in Omaha, Nebraska. You can probably buy them in any state,and as you might expect, you can also get Adirondack chairs that have been made in China. I will have to admit, I have a set of plastic Adirondack chairs that my mother gave me. You cannot take back gifts your mother gives you, even plastic Adirondack chairs.

Using the Adirondack Mountains to directly market you business, products or community is not likely to be to be very effective these days as the name has been overused to sell everything from banks to plumbers. The popularity of the name however, demonstrates that our region remains extremely popular. Communities must use the name to indirectly market themselves. The character of the Adirondack region, the endless recreational opportunities and the unmatched scenery in the northeast is the biggest and most important aspect we can use to attract, retain and grow businesses.

Let's remember why we live here and develop strategies to convey our love of the Adirondacks to attract new residents and investors we need as we develop our sustainable Adirondack economy.

The Adirondack Economy - A Local Initiative

The state of the Adirondack economy continues to be a major discussion point raising such issues as private property rights and concerns with land use regulations along with a lack of sufficient state investment in Adirondack communities. With the recent economic downturn, the perception of an ailing if not dying Adirondack economy seems to once again be gaining significant momentum. There has been a few recent studies providing valuable data on the health of the Adirondack economy and state of local communities. Studies such as the Adirondack Park Regional Assessment Project (APRAP) released May 2009, and The North Country in Statistical Profile by the Community and Rural Development Institute released in April 2008,  can be interpreted in different ways. One interpretation is that the regional economy of the Adirondack Park is strong and in better health then rural regions outside the Park. From a different perspective, when viewed on a county and community level, the opposite conclusion could be drawn.

Regardless of how the data is interpreted, one thing is clear, local communities need to take their economic growth into their own hands. State and federal investment in the Adirondacks has been on the decline and local communities can no longer expect large capital projects and job generators such as new state and federal prisons. The local economies have long since shifted away from industrial and agricultural-based industries and has become more or less dependent on public sector jobs. As the state budget gets trimmed to address our significant deficit, the Adirondacks will surely feel it's fair share of the cuts.

The following posts will cover the current economic situation of the Adirondacks, what is working and what is not, and begin to identify possible recommendations towards achieving a sustainable economy, or multiple economies throughout the Adirondack Park.