Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

CCIC Short Of Goal; Still Seeking Members

More members are being sought to join the Clark County Industrial Council.

At its regular monthly meeting, the CCIC was informed its goal of 500 members wasn't met during its membership drive.

Al Lynch, chairman of the membership committee, said there are 190 registered members, but the drive will continue.

Individual memberships, he said, are $10 per year, while businesses can join for $25 annually. By joining, people can be voting members of the CCIC and make their voices heard in how the organization works to attract business and industry to the county.

Lynch said the CCIC targeted about 600 businesses and industries in the county, along with more than 13,000 individuals.

Brown Hardman, CCIC president, said the organization is successful because of the leadership its had and the involvement of the people, business and industry.

Banks, he said, are one of the major benefactors to the CCIC.

However, the CCIC has not been without problems during 1996. In fact, Hardman said the entity hired two executive directors, with the first leaving to pursue other interests.

Peter Lawson, the most recently hired director, is still learning the ropes.

Hardman said the CCIC needs an annual budget of $88,500 just to meet its basic needs. To date, he said, the CCIC has collected $73,000.

The expenses the agency has include maintaining the Clark County Industrial Park, paying salaries, promotions, advertising, taxes, office expenses, insurance, payroll and banquet expenses.

In addition, the meeting was for the general membership to decide on the board for 1997-99.

The outgoing members were Anita Cabe, Bill Fowler, Joyce Palla, Scott Tatman, Joe Miles and Flave Carpenter.

However, Miles and Carpenter were not only re-nominated, but were named back to the board. Other new members include Ken Bowen, Phil Robkin, Doug Cole, Paul Webb, Phil Rice (who replaces Henry Conley for a year) and Kenny Spruill (who replaced Rebecca Lawson for a year).

The board did not nominate anyone for vice president at the time. Dolphus Whitten suggested tabling the VP selection until the selection committee has time to look at its choices and make a decision. This will be done at the February meeting.

"I feel we're in the best position we've ever been in," Hardman said, following the induction of the new board. "But I fear complacency. We don't need to let up."

From there, discussion turned to the I-30 Industrial Park. Hardman reminded the members this is not the same type of park as the existing one, but will focus primarily on service industries.

He said the CCIC has had a survey done already, with legal descriptions of the roads and properties in hand. At this time, he added, the CCIC is working to get people to sign deeds so work can begin.

The CCIC has a grant to build an access road to the new park, with businesses being sought to fill it.