Jackson County Chamber Voting To Add First Paid Position

A candidate has been selected and awaits approval as the first Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.

President Jordan Hunter said this will be the first paid position at the chamber. Hunter said the candidate needed to have as much versatility, as the county wants to see in its economic development.

“Trying to bring in a chain restaurant or fast food restaurant or something of that nature or a grocery store,” Hunter said. “The next day you’re out here talking to a small business to get them into your downtown square and then the next day you’re working with the state on putting in a boat ramp.”

Hunter said a local candidate has been selected and will be voted on by the chamber on June 29. He said if the candidate is approved they will begin working on July 1. Hunter said the position is a step towards getting Jackson County out of being one of the lowest ranked counties for economic impact from tourism.

“50 percent probably on membership development and economic development. Bringing businesses in and raising that sales tax dollar because that impacts the county and the city and gets them bought into the chamber,” Hunter said. “And then also tourism, which directly all those expenditures go into our occupancy tax and will be directly impacting the chamber’s funding.”

Hunter said having an executive director who can recruit new members is key to making the chamber self sustaining. He said a blueprint for membership structure has been put in place to help the new position succeed in this effort.

“We have a structure where we can really go out and sell the chamber to these businesses,” Hunter said. “That’s one thing that is going to be a huge goal for this new position. They’re going to have to make sure that the businesses are buying in. The local businesses, as well as ones that are benefiting that are maybe outside the county for what we’re doing here in tourism.”

Hunter said they pursued a candidate who knew the area and had a college degree. However, he said a degree was not required, they truly wanted a candidate who could sell the county and its cities.