Earlier this week, the Jackson City Council awarded over 34,000 dollars to two local organizations in another move to help the revitalization of Jackson. The money came from Measure E funding, which was a measure approved by the voters in 2002 whereby the city’s transient occupancy tax, or motel tax, was raised from 8 percent to 10 percent. That extra two percent translated into about 64,310 dollars in 2007, according to a report by City Manager Mike Daly. To help determine the best use of Measure E funds, an advisory committee oversees requests for, and disbursement of the funds. This year, the Amador Council of Tourism, or A.C.T., and the Amador Chamber of Commerce both requested funds to help support their organizations. The A.C.T. requested a total of 30,000 dollars, a portion of which would go to the Historic Jackson Business Association, or HJBA. Maureen Funk and Toni Fancher were on hand at the meeting to present their proposal and answer any questions. Mayor Pryor Escamilla and Vice-Mayor Connie Gonsalves both praised the “level of partnership” that A.C.T. and HJBA exhibited. A.C.T. was awarded 25,310 dollars, with 11,000 of those dollars reserved for partner projects with HJBA. Additionally, the Amador Chamber of Commerce requested funds. Jacquie Lucido was present at the meeting to give an overview of the many services provided by the chamber, which includes responding to a myriad of tourist inquiries, and even booking hotel rooms and providing information about local events. Lucido ended by saying, “When we ask for money, its money that we desperately need.” The chamber requested 37,500 dollars, but due to an earlier council decision to reserve 30,000 dollars of the 2007 funds for economic development needs of the city, the chamber received the same amount as last year, which was 9,000 dollars. “We’d like to give everyone all the money that they request,” says Daly, “but there was only 34,310 dollars available.”
The 30,000 in reserve will likely go to projects related to the Economic Development Committee, and, according to Daly, could also go towards the feasibility study of forming the much-talked-about Jackson Redevelopment Agency.
Earlier this week, the Jackson City Council awarded over 34,000 dollars to two local organizations in another move to help the revitalization of Jackson. The money came from Measure E funding, which was a measure approved by the voters in 2002 whereby the city’s transient occupancy tax, or motel tax, was raised from 8 percent to 10 percent. That extra two percent translated into about 64,310 dollars in 2007, according to a report by City Manager Mike Daly. To help determine the best use of Measure E funds, an advisory committee oversees requests for, and disbursement of the funds. This year, the Amador Council of Tourism, or A.C.T., and the Amador Chamber of Commerce both requested funds to help support their organizations. The A.C.T. requested a total of 30,000 dollars, a portion of which would go to the Historic Jackson Business Association, or HJBA. Maureen Funk and Toni Fancher were on hand at the meeting to present their proposal and answer any questions. Mayor Pryor Escamilla and Vice-Mayor Connie Gonsalves both praised the “level of partnership” that A.C.T. and HJBA exhibited. A.C.T. was awarded 25,310 dollars, with 11,000 of those dollars reserved for partner projects with HJBA. Additionally, the Amador Chamber of Commerce requested funds. Jacquie Lucido was present at the meeting to give an overview of the many services provided by the chamber, which includes responding to a myriad of tourist inquiries, and even booking hotel rooms and providing information about local events. Lucido ended by saying, “When we ask for money, its money that we desperately need.” The chamber requested 37,500 dollars, but due to an earlier council decision to reserve 30,000 dollars of the 2007 funds for economic development needs of the city, the chamber received the same amount as last year, which was 9,000 dollars. “We’d like to give everyone all the money that they request,” says Daly, “but there was only 34,310 dollars available.” 
The 30,000 in reserve will likely go to projects related to the Economic Development Committee, and, according to Daly, could also go towards the feasibility study of forming the much-talked-about Jackson Redevelopment Agency.
