CHAMBER'S ROLL EXPANDED; 1998 SAW CHANGES, GROWTH FOR JACKSON CHAMBER

Already making great strides, the city of Jackson received a boost in 1998 from a Chamber of Commerce that greatly expanded its role in the community.

Paramount among the Chamber's 1998 accomplishments was hiring Ken Parrett as executive Chamber director/economic development director. He became the first executive director for the Chamber in 20 years. The position was funded by a cooperative arrangement with the city.

The Chamber also completed a capital funds project, remodeling its portion of the circa 1940 former Post Office building in which it is housed. Parrett and his assistant, Amy Evans, are now able to offer business owners, prospective business owners and others a database of available stores, land and other information.

A Jackson web site has also gotten off the ground, providing information world-wide to interested parties.

Membership has also increased dramatically and new businesses (i.e. Buccheit's) continue to roll in. The Chamber now boasts nearly 300 members.

"The year 1998 was an enormous year for the Chamber," said Parrett, who earned his undergraduate and Masters degrees during a 22-year Army career. "The people in the community are really expressing their support--both business and residential."

Jackson continues to have more and more to offer prospective business owners and their employees. It also has more ways to attract them.

A new industrial park is coming closer to being reality. Preliminary engineering studies have recently been made and Parrett hopes to get "a decent-sized industrial firm" in place in the near future. Improving the Highway PP industrial area is also "a high priority."

"I can't say enough about our city government," Parrett said. "The mayor is doing a great job (encouraging industrial growth). He's not pushing for it, but he welcomes it. We're leaving it up to the mayor and (City Manager) Steve Wilson to get the best fit."

Parrett wants to foster an environment conducive to continued economic growth.

"We're making great strides in making the Chamber more accessible and more user-friendly," he said. "We've added toll-free numbers, voice mail and e-mail."

Then there is the impressively-sculpted Jackson web site. Designed and maintained by Lisa Smith, the site provides a variety of information, including history, factual information, activities and a link to local residents and past residents with personal web sites.

"Lisa did a phenomenal job," Parrett said. "It's a super, super web site."

The Chamber has had a hand in a number of other projects, including the popular Shadow Day program, an annual banquet and golf tournament, a weekly Monday morning FAX to members and a $50 in-Jackson Christmas gift certificate. A matching grant is also being pursued from the Missouri Division of Tourism for a large billboard on I-55 in Memphis.

"When I was growing up, any business I went into that had a Chamber of Commerce plaque on the wall or in the window, had instant credibility in my eyes," Parrett said. "We want to be there for our members. Big or small, they're all important."