By SEAN JANSSEN

The Union Democrat

The guest speaker who generated a lot of buzz at the Calaveras County Economic Development Summit got people talking again Thursday with the idea of a partnership among Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador counties.

Tim Johnson, the publisher of the online "California Business Minute," returned to Angels Camp with a speech at Camps Restaurant at Greenhorn Creek after firing up folks at last month's summit with a post-lunch pep talk that inspired productive afternoon sessions.

His message might have been summed up last time around as: "You can do it." This time: "You can do it, but you can't do it alone."

"Your neighbors to the north and south are at the exact time and place that you are," Johnson said. "There are not enough financial resources here to do an economic development program alone. The only way that we can see fit is a regional approach that achieves an economy of scale."

That means looking to Tuolumne and Amador counties and the municipalities within them for a cooperative effort, he said.

"To man an office, it's going to cost an expensive amount of money," Johnson said. "This is a chance for the three counties to embark on something that will lead you in the right direction."

He then emphasized the importance of Community Development Block Grants and a need to go after such funding immediately, offering to write such a grant for free and urging local leaders to put something together in the next few days.

An economic development organization ought to be in place within a short time after upcoming elections, Johnson added.

Calaveras County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Diane Gray said she has made initial contacts with counterparts in Tuolumne and Amador counties and that city and county administrators in the area are talking as well.

Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director George Segarini said a regional meeting that included a fourth county (Mariposa) about a year ago "reached an agreement, at that time, to look further into an economic development committee."

"By getting together, there is certainly more clout for us as a region," Segarini said.

The next step forward is an expected joint powers authority agreement between the city of Sonora and Tuolumne County, he said.

After that, "if we can work more closely together, I think that can be a benefit for all the counties," Segarini said.

Sonora City Administrator Greg Applegate said work toward the JPA is under way as are discussions with colleagues in moving forward on economic development. A lunch meeting with Tuolumne County Administrator Craig Pedro and Angels Camp City Administrator Tim Shearer is planned next week, Applegate said.

"We recognize that economic development doesn't necessarily occur within boundaries," he said. "Living wage job creation will put money back in people's pockets. People spend money in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties ... who live in the (opposite) counties. We enjoy each other's cities. They're close in proximity."

With increased jobs comes increased demand for housing and a boost for the entire area, Applegate said.

Contact Sean Janssen at sjanssen@uniondemocrat.com or 736-8097.