In these trying economic times, virtually every public entity is scavenging for survival. The cities of Jackson, Sutter Creek and Ione, Amador County, the Amador Economic Development Corp. and the Central Sierra Economic Development District presented plans and opinions to the Amador Regional Planning Committee on the subject Thursday night.

"Jackson has lost Prospect Motors and Safeway, Kragen and Amador Transit (Ready-mix)," said Jackson Vice Mayor Connie Gonsalves. "Plus, the courthouse moved." All of this has led to a significant drop in tax revenues to the city and a general business malaise, she added.

Concerned residents and city officials have been working all year on plans to combat the problems besetting their city. Following a January economic workshop, the Jackson City Council formed an economic development committee, which has since morphed into a public/private nonprofit corporation, the Jackson Revitalization Committee.

The revitalization committee consists of 12 members, nine of whom have been chosen from various segments of Jackson citizenry, two city council members and one supervisor-elect, John Plasse, who will be the county liaison. The committee provides a conduit for funding from either private sources or government programs. Meetings will be held on the second Thursday of each month, with the first one next week.

Actions taken so far began with bagging the parking meters on Main Street. The city organized a "Beautification Day" that drew many residents to join in a cooperative general clean-up.

The city of Jackson offered customer service training to employees at city businesses, conducted by Nordstrom's executive Betsy Sanders, along with motivational speaker Robert Mees.

On the horizon for Jackson is the possibility of forming a redevelopment agency. Committee members made a trip to Sonora to see first hand the fruits of that city's successful program. The city has hired a specialist firm to evaluate an agency's potential boundaries and its financial feasibility.

The city of Ione has wheels in motion, headed in numerous directions. Ione City Manager Kim Kerr told the committee that the city has applied for four separate grants from the Community Development Block Grant program. The city hopes to pay for studies that could lead to the creation of a new police station and rebuilding projects in the historic downtown.

The city hosted a presentation by the Buxton Co. of Fort Worth, Texas, which outlined its technologically advanced program for identifying and attracting the right kinds of businesses to a community. "Perhaps the entities in the county could cooperate on a study that would identify what stores should be put where," Kerr suggested, "so we don't compete with each other."

The city has inquired about membership in Preserve America, but hasn't heard back yet. Kerr also raised the possibility of creation of a redevelopment agency.

Clark's Corner is coming soon, kitty-corner from Ione City Hall, envisioned by Mayor Andrea Bonham and the Clark family as a coffee shop, delicatessen, historical and cultural community center with art and entertainment.

The Ione Business and Community Association is working with Ione Rotary on a plan to replace the streetlights downtown. The city is also doing CEQA analysis for a new parking lot for downtown shoppers. Interactive planning workshops are scheduled for Nov. 12 and Nov. 19.

Next up was Sutter Creek Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe, who listed some of the city's many plans for the future. "The city has been exploring the possibility of a community college along the bypass," Rabe told the committee.

There is activity at the intersection of Ridge Road and Highway 49, known as Sutter Hill, with Walgreen's expected to break ground soon on the northwest and a chance of another redevelopment agency for other parts of the area.

Gonsalves praised her neighboring city, saying, "Jackson needs to take a page from the playbook of the Sutter Creek business association and promotions committee."

"The Knight Foundry is in escrow," Rabe said, "and the visitor center has made a very successful move to Main Street."

Amador County was represented by committee member Louis Boitano, the District 4 supervisor. "We haven't given up on the Carbondale Industrial Park," he said, referring to the long-awaited project near Ione. "There is also ongoing work at Martell, in Sierra Business Park and on Sierra Pacific Industries property there."

Carbondale was mentioned again by Ron Mittelbrunn, executive director of the Amador Economic Development Corp. "I've been involved in the Carbondale project for a long time," said the 18-year veteran of Amador County economic development attempts. "My focus is in the county, to try to get companies that pay high wages. It's been very elusive."

Mittelbrunn cited the Amador Central Business Park and Sierra Business Park as two examples of good news for the local economy. He also described work on creation of a community college as an ongoing project. But what the county really needs, according to Mittelbrunn, is housing, as well as other features attractive to companies looking to locate somewhere. The AEDC has had limited success in drawing new industry to Amador County, but has raised $41 million for expansion of existing businesses, such as Pokerville Market, Shenandoah Inn, Jeff Holman Auto, Helimax, Rory's Towing and Sierra Foothills Laboratory.

"How can the AEDC work with the cities?" asked committee Chairman Tim Murphy, a Sutter Creek City councilman.

"All it takes is a phone call to 223-0351," Mittelbrunn replied.

"The heyday of state and federal funding was the late '70s and early '80s," said Larry Busby of the Central Sierra Economic Development District, which includes the four counties of Amador, Alpine, Calaveras and Tuolumne. "The Economic Development Agency used to give 75 percent for projects," he explained, "but now it's only 50 percent and the local entity must come up with the other half."

On attracting businesses, Busby told the committee that the competition for quality industries or businesses is fierce. Other cities and counties all want the same thing.

"Cities should be looking at what they can do for businesses they would like to attract," Busby advised. "What do these businesses want that we can provide?"

Busby recommended that the committee and cities look at reports that the CSEDD did 10 years ago, which he said are still valid today.

Most importantly, by Busby's reckoning, is housing. "Economic development cannot happen without the housing," he declared. "Plus, you have to have a buy-in from the community - from the city - from the people."

In closing, Busby alerted the committee and the representatives from the three cities that redevelopment agencies can be accompanied by unforeseen complications. Cities will have to deal with school boards and other entities whose tax revenues will be affected by the creation of redevelopment districts.