Amador County – The Amador County Chamber of Commerce has reopened its business office in Jackson, with new members, and existing members volunteering to help.

New Chamber of Commerce Executive Board President Mark Borchin said this week the Chamber reopened its office at 571 South Highway 49 in Jackson, and is working to revamp its website.

The Chamber on October 19th received $15,000 in funding from the Amador County Board of Supervisors, from Transient Occupancy Tax funding. Borchin said the Chamber is reorganiz2ing with non-paid and volunteer staff, and he will serve as president through the end of the year.

He said he has asked the Chamber members to commit to a block of hours each month to help with volunteer office staffing, and the chamber also has gotten some new members to join.

The chamber held a couple of events this week, including its mixer Wednesday at the Bank of Amador in Jackson. The chamber also will host a ribbon cutting for the new Big 5 Sporting Goods store today, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday (November 11th) at the new store’s location, at 11974 Highway 88, in Martell. The event is set for 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday. Borchin also plans to appear on TSPN’s noon news.

The former Chamber executive director, Jacqueline Lucido, is being investigated for improper use of a credit card connected to a former Chamber president. That has prompted a reorganization of the Chamber, including letting go of all paid staff, and revamping as a volunteer organization.

Borchin said the Chamber is working to get past the setback, and he plans to remain the board president until the end of the year, then Chamber members can hold a new election.

The Chamber Executive Board currently includes Borchin, owner of the Glass Doctor in Martell as president. Tom Blackman, a local Realtor is the vice president; Sharon Lundgren of Volcano Telephone is secretary and treasure; and Kevin Blasingame, a Jackson physician, is a director.

Supervisors surprised three local non-profit groups on October 19th when they approved $42,000 in Transient Occupancy Tax spending. That included $25,000 to the Amador Council of Tourism, $2,200 to the Amador Film Commission, and $15,000 to the Amador Chamber of Commerce.

The spending was approved with the idea to promote tourism through the groups, who were all given the stipulation to come back to the board to report how funds are being spent.

Supervisors put nearly 50 percent of total TOT funds into tourism, of $86,000 collected from unincorporated areas of the county.

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