That was what "U 'n Utah" managing partner Stephen Jury told the Salt Lake County Council on Tuesday, while pitching a plan to deliver 1,000 high-paying jobs to the county in one year and 50,000 over 10 years in exchange for $100 per job.

Jury, the sole salaried employee of the economic-development company, said his private marketing approach to add jobs is unique.

"It has never been tried anywhere else in the United States," he told the council.

Jury is offering to spend $1 million on the "calculated risk." He says the key is recruitment - primarily with large companies outside Utah.

"There's every single business reason to do this, but it's a political hot potato," he concedes.

The proposal - Jury has spent three years pitching his economic-development plan to city councils and the governor's office - has the ear of Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon.

"It sounds like a no-risk proposition. If he doesn't bring the jobs, he doesn't get the money," Corroon said. "Why not give it a try."

But Councilman Mark Crockett, a business consultant, has doubts.

"I've played this game before," he said. "I'd be interested in a broader conversation on how this really works."

Jury insists the formula is simple. He flies to companies to lure jobs to Utah. If they relocate in Salt Lake County, pay a minimum of $35,000 and remain at least one year, he earns $100 for each job. Jury also pockets $100 for each year those jobs stick - up to 10 years.

If the County Council signs on - no action was taken Tuesday - Jury also would petition the host city for $100 and $300 from the state.

Thus far, the plan has met stiff opposition from the state's Economic Development Corp.

But Jury, whose background includes real estate and airline marketing, notes Salt Lake County lost 5,000 jobs between 2001 and 2003, according to the Department of Workforce Services. He cites Micron in Lehi and Intel in Riverton as companies that "oversold" its economic promises.

Even so, Councilwoman Jenny Wilson noted, if Jury met his goal of 50,000 jobs, it could cost taxpayers $50 million over 10 years.

"I guess the question to us is: 'What is a job worth?' " Wilson said.

djensen@sltrib.com