Amador County – Jackson City Council on Monday approved $6,000 for the remainder the Amador County Chamber of Commerce budget requested in January.

City Manager Mike Daly said the Chamber went through a reorganization in late 2010, the Council approved $12,000 in January, and “also held back a portion of the funding to allow” the Chamber “to work on developing a stronger relationship with the Amador Council of Tourism, the other organization focused on attracting visitors to the city of Jackson and boosting the local economy.”

Amador County Chamber of Commerce Vice President Tom Blackman in a letter to the council described the changes at the Chamber, including the moving of its office from Mother Lode Plaza on Highway 49 onto Main Street in Jackson.

Blackman in the May 5 letter said Amador Chamber has “successfully continued our operations with one paid staff and an increasing number of regularly scheduled volunteers. We were happy to have completed our move and announce our new location on Main Street in Jackson.”

The Chamber’s new website is under construction by the Jackson firm, Element 58 and the site could be launched this week. Blackman said “we are transferring over member data, calendar events, advertising and our newsletter format.” He said it was “a real conduit to all people interested in our area literally from around the world.” He said the site was getting 100 hits a day and plans to “build off of that with increased membership and increased information available to the public.”

Blackman said with help from members, Amador County and Jackson, the “Chamber is alive and well” and “financial healthy, bills are paid and new membership is rolling in.”

The funding for the Chamber came on recommendation from the city Measure E Ad Hoc Committee, to provide funding for tourism and economic development services.

Also Monday, Jackson City Council approved making Transient Occupancy Tax funds available for applicant groups. City Manager Mike Daly said the process still must get under way. He said the TOT, a 2% tax approved by the 2002 Measure E, generates about $60,000 a year. Past recipients of the funds include the Chamber, Amador Council of Tourism, Main Street Theater Works and other organizations that promote tourism and economic activities.

The Council also approved Jackson Rotary to host a margarita booth at the Mother Lode Cruise vintage car show, set for Saturday, May 21 in downtown Jackson. The Council also gave the nod for the Art in the Park art and craft show for Saturday, June 4 at Detert Park.

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