Thousand Islands International Tourism Council Director Gary S. DeYoung during an interview for NNY Business in the Watertown Daily Times office. Mr. DeYoung believes there is untapped potential for businesses and Jefferson County to cater to seasonal residents. Photo by Norm Johnston.
In a report released Wednesday morning, the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council projected that seasonal residents of Jefferson County spend approximately $28 million annually in Jefferson County.
The report is part of a study conducted by the Center for Community Studies at Jefferson Community College on behalf of the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council, with financial support from Jefferson County and the Economic Development Administration.
The survey was sent to 4,000 of the 7,164 seasonal residents of Jefferson County. The 4,000 were targeted to represent the county’s geographic seasonal home communities. Of the 4,000 surveys, 974 responses were deemed credible and used for the report.
“The results confirm what we have suspected, that most of our seasonal residents are older, well-educated and have a great impact on the local economy,” Gary S. DeYoung, tourism council director, said in a press release. “It’s interesting that there is a few hundred people living part time in Jefferson County with business experience that are interested in taking a greater role in the North Country economy. It’s a potential source of economic development to be mined.”
Mr. DeYoung is referring to the findings that one-in-five seasonal residents are business owners and nearly 5 percent said they have interest in buying or starting a business in Jefferson County.
Other findings from the survey include:
- 79 percent of seasonal residents have a favorable outlook about the quality of life in Jefferson County with favorable marks for recreational opportunities, quality of the environment and crime control.
- Property taxes and energy costs received low marks for positive reviews.
- Approximately 80 percent of seasonal residences are considered waterfront. Sixty eight percent of seasonal properties are valued between $100,000 and $400,000.
- The average estimated income of a Jefferson County seasonal resident is $136,590.
- Most seasonal residents are between the ages of 50 and 69.
