Following a short executive session Monday evening to discuss the Town of Winnsboro’s need to find someone to facilitate activities and festivals in the downtown area and to generally assist in downtown development, Council voted unanimously to hire the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce to do the job.
“After Connie’s (Shackelford) death last year, we don’t have anyone on staff to fill that need,” Mayor Roger Gaddy told The Voice following the vote.
“Connie wrote grants and worked with the merchants in trying to bring shoppers to the downtown, but those were two different jobs and we probably need to hire two different people to do them,” Gaddy said.
“Terry (Vickers) does a great job working with the merchants now and putting on events in the town. I think she’ll do a great job for us.”
Council signed a one-year contract with the Chamber that will pay $35,000 to cover the costs of advertising and event organizing.
“I’m looking forward to working with the merchants, which is already what the Chamber does,” said Vickers who has been with the Chamber for 20 years and currently serves as President and CEO.
“We will now also be the Community Development arm of the Town of Winnsboro. This is a wonderful town,” Vickers said, “and I am happy to be part of it.”
