JACKSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEIGHS POSSIBLE EXPANSION

JACKSON -- The Jackson Chamber of Commerce is considering an expansion that could include hiring an economic developer, possibly in partnership with the City of Jackson.

Noting the city's rapid growth, a questionnaire recently sent to the chamber membership seeks comments on whether the chamber should enlarge its mission and whether any expansion should include employing someone to promote the city.

The membership also is being asked its views on paying higher dues to help fund the position, and whether the City of Jackson should be asked to contribute.

Finally, opinions are asked on a merger between the chamber and the Jackson Retail Merchants.

Chamber President Brent Wills said the membership has been talking about expanding for some time and has talked about putting a budget together to fund a business planner and staff member.

The chamber has been run on an interim basis by Marilyn Foster since the resignation in December of Patty Reisenbichler. Reisenbichler was executive secretary of the chamber for 10 1/2 years.

Wills, who owns an insurance business, said Reisenbichler's primary responsibility was to manage the office and the chamber volunteers. The chamber still needs someone to do that. An economic developer would concentrate on promoting Jackson, he said.

"The job would be to bring new industry and businesses to town and to work with existing businesses."

Helping existing businesses develop their retail volume would be one of the job's functions.

Wills cautions that the idea of creating a joint position with the city has only been broached through informal conversations with aldermen.

"It hasn't even been brought to the city. We want to see if the membership wants to do it and develop a budget for it," he said.

City Administrator Steve Wilson said the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association already helps the city attract industry. But, he said, economic developers elsewhere "have been a positive thing for attracting retail sales and keeping retail sales intact in a community."

Kenny Fluegge, who became president of the Jackson Retail Merchants three weeks ago, said he doesn't know how his membership feels about any of the proposals. The organization has 20 members and operates as a marketing and advertising pool.

But Fluegge, merchandising manager at Pocahontas Lumber & Hardware, thinks an economic developer would be useful. "It would be good for the area. There are a lot of towns around that have something like that," he said.

The chamber has been in contact with a number of cities in the region that employ economic developers, including Sikeston, Perryville and Farmington.

The chamber has a membership of 244 but sent out 326 questionnaires, some to nonmembers who have an interest in Jackson. So far, 64 questionnaires have been returned.

The questionnaires are due back in the chamber office by Monday, the date of the next membership meeting.