CHAMBER SEEKING DONATIONS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS

JACKSON -- Launched with a $5,000 donation from NationsBank, a capital campaign has begun to make improvements in the Jackson Chamber of Commerce office.

Now run by chamber secretary Marilyn Foster, the office will have an additional occupant in a few months. The chamber recently announced plans to hire an executive director/economic developer in partnership with the City of Jackson.

The organization has set a goal of raising $50,000 to be used to modify the interior of the building at 125 E. Main St. The office also needs new carpeting, and the phone system and other technology may need to be upgraded, says Howard Alexander, new president of the chamber board of directors.

All of this is part of the chamber's recent decision to expand its role in Jackson.

The linchpin in that expansion will be the new executive director. Expansion of the chamber's programs demands a full-time director, Alexander says.

"Since Jackson is made up of a lot of small stores, we can't expect the members of the board to leave their desks and take care of things. We need somebody that is super-available."

The new director, who is expected to be on the job by Sept. 1, will be in charge of maintaining the existing business climate along with drawing new business and industry to the city.

"People see Jackson as on the move and they are ready for the chamber to expand," Alexander said.

"We're not going to be competing with anybody. We're going to be doing the things that are best for Jackson."

At the same time, Alexander says the new spirit of cooperation that Jackson Mayor Paul Sander and Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III have fostered should extend to the cities' Chambers of Commerce as well.

"I'm not proposing that we merge but that we get together and say these are some of our common goals," Alexander said.

The chamber did not want to take out a loan to pay for the capital improvements. Thus the capital campaign, which is expected to last through August.

To get things started, Larry Hall of NationsBank presented the chamber with a $5,000 check at the organization's installation banquet Monday. Hall is a member of the chamber board of directors.

"They came forward and said, We want to do this," Alexander said.

The chamber is giving out buttons containing a triangle and the words "Chamber Jackson City." The chamber, the City of Jackson and its citizens must work together for the 1998-99 theme of "Together We Can" to be successful, Alexander said.