IRVINE : Business Retention Strategy Outlined

Officials from the Chamber of Commerce this week presented the City Council with an Economic Development Strategy Plan aimed at luring new companies to the city, retaining existing ones and reducing regulations.

The chamber and city officials have been crafting the plan over the past few months. They hope to begin using its recommendations this year.

The 26-page plan suggests marketing the city more aggressively in California and around the world. The goal is to bring more high-skilled, high-paying jobs in such industries as computers to the city and improve Irvine’s once bustling economy.

Heading the effort will be an executive committee known as “Team Irvine,” which will consist of about a dozen people representing local businesses, educational institutions, utility companies and the city.

“We hope to build a powerful group that will get the job done,” said John Gaffney, a vice president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Below Team Irvine will be six subcommittees charged with looking at specific goals.

Officials hope to have Team Irvine and the subcommittees up and running by the summer. At that point, the council might be asked to help fund certain programs outlined in the plan.