COEUR d'ALENE - Former State Senator Jim Hammond has been tapped as the new executive director of Panhandle Area Council.

"The PAC board is looking forward to the contributions Jim will make to advance economic development in our five northern counties," said PAC vice-chair Kerri Thoreson. "He not only has respected and established relationships in the public sector but also throughout the business community."

Hammond said he got a phone call about six weeks ago from a board member who asked if he would be interested in stepping into the position full-time or even temporarily.

"I told them sure, I would be willing to do it," Hammond said, adding he had applied for the position after Jim Deffenbaugh retired last year.

Greg Cook got the position over Hammond at that time, but Cook announced last month that he had decided to seek other ventures.

Hammond said he has been on the PAC board of directors for more than 20 years, as the mayor of Post Falls and in other capacities.

"I rarely missed a meeting," he said. "I felt like PAC was a very important part of economic development in North Idaho."

Hammond takes the helm Monday morning. He plans to spend the week getting up to speed on the status of the organization.

"I want to do some internal assessments," he said. "I also want to start talking with bankers and people like Steve Griffitts (at Jobs Plus). We need to start putting deals together again."

After that, Hammond plans to work with staff to educate himself on federal and state grant requirements, but he doesn't expect the learning curve to be too steep.

"The staff is pretty good with all of that stuff," Hammond said.