The City of Clarendon will create a new position to guide tourism and economic development issues following a called meeting of the Board of Aldermen last Tuesday.
City Administrator Lambert Little proposed the idea of a paid position that would work with city and the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and give guidance to the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce. Little said the city has $20,000 budgeted for tourism promotion to help fund the position this fiscal year and said he expects the Clarendon EDC to help fund the position in the future.
The funds are the same money that the city has historically given to the Chamber of Commerce for tourism promotion, but the city cut funds to the Chamber last May. As envisioned, the new position would help get the Chamber better organized, and Little says he expects the Chamber would eventually contribute to the cost of the position.
Little said he expects the position to pay about $25,000 to $30,000 per year in order to draw applicants who are experienced in Chamber work or economic development work. The board agreed that experience would be key in finding the right person for the job.
“We need someone who has experience,” Mayor Larry Hicks said.
Alderman Will Thompson agreed with Hicks and said, “The right attitude and the right knowledge can go a long ways.”
New Chamber board member Bonnie Campbell welcomed the city’s proposal and said the Chamber wants to be more involved with local merchants and get more tourism into the city.
Earlier last week, the Clarendon EDC gave its backing to the idea of a joint position and appointed CEDC board member Steve Hall to work with Little to draw up guidelines for the position.
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