Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors last week funded Amador County Chamber of Commerce for $20,000 and urged it to work with the Amador Council of Tourism and reduce redundancies.
Supervisor Ted Novelli said the “Chamber’s doing a great job” but asked if it was “wise to use $8,000 to make promotional material” when the Tourism Council was already doing so. Chamber President Mark Borchin said it was “apples to oranges,” because “visitors are not the same as tourists.” He thought it was appropriate spending.
Susan Manning said the Chamber likes to do a lot with business promotion, which is very different from tourism. Supervisor Richard Forster said he would like to see the two organizations work together.
Borchin said he supports Maurine Funk’s work and would like the Chamber to support the Tourism Council, including financially.
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse asked about the new downtown Jackson office, which the budget showed an “almost doubling of the rent.” Borchin said the landlord (Stan Lukowicz) gave us relief of bankruptcy and back rent owed from the past Chamber organization, and is now increasing the rent as the revitalization of Jackson takes place. Borchin said “it’s something he had informed us of.”
Plasse asked if the Chamber had sought Transient Occupancy Tax funds from the cities, which get the “lion’s share” of the TOT. Chamber Vice President Tom Blackman said Jackson City Council elected to give the majority of the TOT to the Jackson Business and Community Association. He said its thinking was that the majority of the money was raised in Jackson and should stay in Jackson.
Blackman said Jackson officials thought businesses in Jackson should be members of the Chamber. He said at the last minute, the Jackson City Council pulled the money and gave it to the Tourism Council. Blackman said “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t deal us a second blow.”
He said the Chamber should be here to bring businesses here, such as Emco and a Piranha Propellers.
Blackman said “Chamber of Commerce is a household name,” and even President Obama said, when he is going somewhere, “the first thing my wife did was call the Chamber of Commerce.”
Plasse said they need a Chamber, and also need it to work with the Council of Tourism, to give economic activities a focus on expansion and retention of business. He said “the Chamber can help us by selling Amador County” on all of the benefits of moving businesses here.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
