Amador County – The Amador County Chamber of Commerce is making strides forward, not to mention strides into downtown Jackson.

The Chamber has rented a storefront on Main Street in Jackson, and also has hired an employee. The newest and only employee of the growing Chamber said last week that she has the keys to the new building at 131 Main Street, and is preparing to move the Chamber office from its location behind Jose’s Restaurant on Highway 49, and into downtown.

The location is ideal, she said, with a parking lot next door, between the new building and El Dorado Savings Bank. It is also bigger than the old space, and will have two offices in the back.

Diane Sherbourne, administrative coordinator and office manager, was in the new office Friday, with her newest volunteer, architect and interior designer Victor Martinez, who last Thursday was introduced to Sherbourne by Martha Perez of Jose’s. Friday he was in the new office taking measurements to help with modular design and assembly.

Sherbourne said she is “the only employee of the Chamber,” and is training four new volunteers. They will help with the move, which she plans for the first week of March, so the new office is open for this year’s Dandelion Days in downtown Jackson, March 19-20.

Sherbourne took over as office manager as a volunteer, working four-and-a-half months, eight hours a day, five days a week, to find out what was what in the Chamber. She said the Chamber board wanted to hire her but she wanted to find her way around the job first.

Retired from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Tracy, she is working with the new volunteers, whom she wants to be popular in the county. Sherbourne said: “I want people that the people of Jackson know and like to talk to and play with and stop by and see what’s happening.”

Her projects include creating an industrial “ambassador committee” to help new industrial businesses in Ione get to know each other, and maybe team together to find solutions to common needs. She said the tourism group can bring people in, but she wants the Chamber to take care of the nest and the home front.

The Chamber office will move in early March, with lift trucks donated for use by Sharon Lungren of Volcano Television. To volunteer in helping with the office move, or in other capacities, call 223-0350.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.