The City of Clarendon agreed to throw a financial lifeline to the Chamber of Commerce last Tuesday to keep the organization afloat as it continues to restructure.
City Administrator Lambert Little told the Board of Aldermen that the Chamber is incurring expenses of about $300 a month to maintain its office. He said the city and the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation anticipates having a new director of tourism and economic development on board by August 15 and that office along with Chamber functions will be housed in the Mulkey Theatre barber shop. But he said that move will likely be about three months away and the Chamber needs help now.
“It’s going to be easier to keep the Chamber hanging on than it would be to start it again,” Little told the board.
Alderman Tommy Hill agreed and spoke on the Chamber’s behalf.
“I believe in the Chamber; it can do a lot of good,” Hill said. “We’ve got to give them a chance.”
The aldermen unanimously agreed to give the Chamber $1,000 to help it through the next three months.
Last year, Clarendon aldermen withdrew $20,000 in annual payments from the city’s hotel occupancy tax to the Chamber of Commerce over disagreements about how the organization kept records of city money.
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