Members of the Amador County Regional Planning Committee met earlier this month and received updates from some of its membership. Ione City Manager Kim Kerr told of progress in Ione, including the opening of Clark’s Corner, owned by Ione Mayor and committee member, Andrea Bonham. Kerr said the city was also applying for 4 Community Development Block Grants, to look at police station work, revamping Evalynn Bishop Hall, and attracting commercial, retail and industrial newcomers to Ione. Kerr said one approach was “data mining,” which uses company credit card information for purchases in specific zip codes to attract businesses to areas. Instead of focusing on getting customers, the study brings particular businesses to areas based on real needs and buying trends. She said the company produces a list of industries, then produces data to help recruit them. She said they take the radius of the client and figure the businesses. Kerr said the research could be something done in conjunction with the other cities and the county in Amador, to share costs and benefits. Jackson Councilwoman Connie Gonsalves, a committee member, said Jackson had formed an Economic Development Committee, with subcommittees, and was formed in partnership with Shannon Lowery and the Amador Community Foundation. Gonsalves said the work led to the formation of the Jackson Revitalization Committee, which recently added a 12th member, District 1 Supervisor Elect John Plasse, who will allow the JRC to have direct contact with the county. She said the aim was to promote Main Street, which is done with a newsletter to merchants, that keeps them informed and gives positive messages. Sean Rabe, Assistant City Manager of Sutter Creek talked about economic development there, where Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort was in the middle of testing its EIR against the Sutter Creek General Plan. Rabe said the Allen Ranch Road area was going to be a Highway 49 Bypass access road, and it was the area preferred for a possible community college. Story By Jim Reece.