SEARCH NARROWS FOR NEW CHAMBER DIRECTOR

JACKSON -- As the search for the Jackson Chamber of Commerce's first executive director narrows, the drive to raise money to renovate the new director's offices continues.

The position, which will be partially funded by the City of Jackson, drew 54 applications from Missouri, Southern Illinois, Northwestern Arkansas and Western Kentucky. Those who are not qualified have been eliminated, and the recruitment committee is interviewing the rest.

"We have gone through one process of interviews and we will be doing some more interviewing," said Howard Alexander, the chamber president.

He said the committee hopes to announce the name of the new executive director by the end of August.

The chamber is looking for a person with strong public relations skills and the ability to write grants. "Communication is going to be number one," Alexander said. "And we want somebody that we feel like will mesh with the community."

The chamber heretofore has been run by volunteers and a secretary. Membership -- now at 240 -- has not kept pace with Jackson's recent growth surge.

Alexander thinks he knows why. "We don't have anybody out there everyday knocking on doors and recruiting members," he said.

The new executive director is expected to play a key role in expanding membership in addition to maintaining the city's retail environment and attracting new industry.

The capital campaign has raised $12,000-15,000 since its kickoff at the chamber installation banquet at the end of June. The largest contributions have been $5,000 each from NationsBank and Union Planters Bank.

The Cash-Book Journal newspaper also made a sizable gift in the $1,000-1,9999 range, and Jackson Transfer gave between $300-399.

Donations in the $200-299 range came from Southwestern Bell, Val's Upholstery and Marjorie Grindstaff.

In the $100-199 range are contributions from Century 21 Ashland Realty, from Chamber President Howard Alexander and from the Brookside Motel.

Alexander said he'd hoped to be further along toward the $50,000 goal of the campaign by now but expects donations to increase when finishes at the end of this month. "We sent a special mailing to all of our members last week," he said. "Hopefully we will be getting some of that in."