We are having a special meeting of the Economic Vitality Committee on August 27 from 8:30 to 11:30 am at the University of LaVerne Irvine campus. The meeting will focus on an economic development strategy for Irvine.
To help guide the discussion, we have invited Paul Krutko who is the CEO of Ann Arbor Spark, the economic development corporation for Ann Arbor Michigan. Paul, who is the incoming Chairman for the Board for the International Economic Development Council, will talk to us about his experience in San Jose as Chief Development Officer from 2000 to 2010. He helped fashion a city-wide economic development strategy while Silicon Valley was being particularly hard hit during the last recession.
As you know, we have been discussing for the past year an economic development strategy document for Irvine. We are sending out this week a survey asking for your ideas on what to include in the strategy. The general framework will be to attach specific strategies around our four general goals:
 

• Retain existing businesses
• Support entrepreneurship (new business creation)
• Attract new businesses to Irvine
• Support expansion of international business

This is an important meeting and one that will have an impact on the direction of Chamber's Economic Development strategies. Please mark your calendars. I look forward to seeing you there.  

The mission of the Economic Vitality Committee is to improve Irvine’s competitiveness in the local, regional, and global economy. Guided by an innovative approach, the Economic Vitality Committee administers a wide range of economic and workforce development programs, services and initiatives designed to foster entrepreneurship, educate existing businesses in the community, retain and attract companies to Irvine while building strong business relationships within the community.