President of the Ione Business and Community Association Rick Kreth, left, gives a grant to the Ione Parent Teachers Association for library funding. The IBCA works closely with the city of Ione to recruit potential downtown business development. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

The Ione Business and Community Association is doing good things, working together with businesses, community members and the city of Ione to promote positive local growth.

The IBCA has been around for at least five years and currently has around 30 business and community members, according to Rick Kreth, president of the IBCA for the last three years. The IBCA works closely with the city of Ione to recruit potential downtown business development. The mission of the IBCA is to bring Ione's businesses and the community together.

"Ione has been so stagnate for so long that we are really trying to generate new and positive growth in the area," said Alissa Taylor, a member of the board of directors and a part of the IBCA marketing committee. "We also work toward keeping business local instead of people commuting to Sacramento and other communities for their shopping."

According to Kreth, the IBCA puts together things for the businesses and for the city of Ione. "We donated the welcome sign to the city and have donated a lot of money to several different programs in the area."

The IBCA will host its annual Nomination Dinner Thursday, Dec. 7 at Caddy's Bar and Grill at the Castle Oaks Clubhouse in Ione to garner interest in the community and to encourage new members. Dinner is just $15 per person and will begin at 5:30 p.m. There will be an auction at the dinner, a fund-raiser for the IBCA. Auction items include a one year golf membership at Castle Oaks, dinner at Taste restaurant in Plymouth and more.

Also at the dinner, nominations will be made for the board of directors for next year. Board members serve for two years, so every year, half of the seats on the board are up for new nominations. Anyone is welcome to attend the dinner and to join the IBCA.

"The public is more than welcome to come," Kreth said, "but, if they are not members, we will be trying to get them to join."

IBCA also sponsors the annual Christmas Parade and Open House the second weekend in December.

In January, the IBCA plans to come out with a business directory for the Ione area. "We are encouraging any business from Mary Kay to an auto mechanic to contact us with their information so that we can add them to the directory," Taylor said. "The directories will then be placed around Ione at real estate offices and other businesses to promote shopping in our own backyard."

Taylor added that because there is so much new growth coming to the area, this directory will really help anyone who is new to the area be familiar with local services offered.

To be included in this new directory, contact Taylor at 304-9076.

Taylor joined IBCA to see positive growth in this community. "I grew up in this county and have lived here for the last 10 years," she said. "I joined as a community member and have really enjoyed helping promote local businesses and growth."

Kreth, a third generation business owner in Amador County, joined the IBCA "to get into Ione and help out the community and do what I can to help," he said. "I also help to solve problems for the business people in our community."

The IBCA meets every third Thursday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the Ione Hotel. Mixers are every third Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at different locations. Anyone can become a member of IBCA and all members are welcome to the board meetings.

Membership is $35 for a business owner, business representative or government representative. Community residents and nonprofit organizations pay only $15 for membership. The IBCA has several committees including city beautification, events, fund-raising, membership, marketing and welcoming.

Anyone interested in attending the annual Nomination Dinner can R.S.V.P. by calling Caddy's at 274-6354 by Tuesday, Dec. 5. Caddy's Bar and Grill is at 1000 Castle Oaks Drive, Ione.

For information on becoming a member, contact Kreth at 274-2446, call the IBCA message phone at 217-7481 or visit www.ibca.biz and download an application. For more information about IBCA, visit its Web site at www.ibca.biz.