NEW CHAMBER DIRECTOR FORCUSES MEMBERSHIP ON SMALL BUSINESSES

JACKSON -- Membership in the Jackson Chamber of Commerce has increased by 6 percent since Ken Parrett became executive director at the beginning of October. By concentrating on small businesses, Parrett says he hopes to boost the chamber membership over the 300 mark by the end of the fiscal year.

Parrett outlined the status of the chamber and his goals for the organization in a presentation to the Jackson Board of Aldermen earlier this week. The city is paying Parrett's salary until the chamber becomes self-sufficient, which he hopes will occur by 2002.

The chamber's current membership is at 269. Parrett said he intends to focus on signing up businesses with one to four employees and letting them know that they're as important as the big employers. "We want them to be part of this."

The organization also is busy promoting shopping in the city by running ads and giving away a $50 gift certificate that must be spent in Jackson.

Parrett said the chamber must give back to the community through sponsoring promotions and events. He said "fund earners" -- chamber-sponsored events that raise money for the chamber while providing the community with entertainment -- are preferable to fund raisers.

In the future he wants to establish a $500 scholarship for Jackson High School.

Being a good partner to the city is a priority, Parrett said. "Though we may not always agree, we're both going in the same direction."

Asked by Alderman Dave Hitt why a business should join the chamber, Parrett said its popular Business After Hours networking events and Monday morning faxes are the most tangible benefits. Being part of a team is another, less concrete advantage, he said.

"The Chamber of Commerce is a team for the community."

Parrett said the chamber's summer-long fund drive aimed at renovation of the organization's offices accumulated $20,000. "It paid all the bills," he said.

Mayor Paul Sander said the city offered to pay the new director's salary after a survey of chamber respondents overwhelmingly favored hiring one and asking to city to help fund the position.

"This is a substantial amount of money the city is putting into it," Sander said. "We feel like we've got a good start."