Lake Forest community leaders, business owners and residents are dedicated to the vision of the city as an ideal place for businesses to prosper and people to live, work and play. The City promotes entrepreneurial activity by offering various business resources. Our unique Business Development and Attraction Program provides individual consultations with business experts, business workshops and training, dedicated staff to promptly address business concerns and fast track building permits, and many other services. In addition, the City partners with SCORE to offer free business counseling at Lake Forest City Hall. To schedule an appointment with a SCORE business counselor in Lake Forest call (714) 550-7369 or access their website at www.score114.org for a list or workshops.
	UPCOMING EVENTS Exploration Day in The Arbor on El Toro- Saturday, April 19, 2008 The City of Lake Forest and Westrust invite you to join us in celebrating the completion of two new shopping and dining centers in The Arbor on El Toro: the Orchard at Saddleback and the Home Depot Office/Retail Center. Join us for “Exploration Day in The Arbor on El Toro” on Saturday, April 19, 2008, as we celebrate the completion of these centers and promote The Arbor on El Toro as Lake Forest’s newest shopping, dining, and entertainment district! Event activities will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Orchard and Home Depot Office/Retail Center. This fun-filled community day will include music, family entertainment, special guests, presentations, give aways, and the “Arbor Amazing Race” for children. The Arbor Amazing Race will lead children through the Orchard & Home Depot Office/Retail shopping centers. Participating children must be accompanied by an adult on this journey and will be given a map as they arrive and collect clues at various destinations. The first 100 kids to complete the race will win a special first prize and all contestants who complete the race are eligible to win the grand prize! Exploration Day in The Arbor will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2008, from 11:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. at The Orchard and Home Depot Office/Retail Center on El Toro Road near the intersection of Rockfield Blvd. Contact Jessica M. Gonzales, the City’s Economic Development Specialist at 949-461-3569 or jgonzales@ci.lake-forest.ca.us for more details. Click here for event flyer SECRETS TO SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS Small business owners, save the date! On Friday, May 2, 2008, you can learn the Secrets to Small Business Success – Growing in a Shrinking Economy. Hosted by the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the City of Lake Forest, this event is designed specifically for business owners seeking to maximize both their success and time. Presented as a half-day series of seminars, the event will help entrepreneurs learn the essentials on growing their businesses even in a shrinking economy from experts in every area of business including: finance, sales, marketing, human resources, and legal issues. If you’ve worried about your business’ continued growth and success in today’s economic environment, then this is the event you won’t want to miss! Get the same edge as much larger companies. Maximize your cash efficiency and employee productivity. Build sales while increasing profits and avoid costly mistakes. Secrets to Small Business Success – Growing in a Shrinking Economy will be held at Lake Forest City Hall located at 25550 Commercentre Drive on Friday, May 2, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.) at Lake Forest City Hall, located at 25550 Commercentre Drive. Please join our keynote speaker, Scott Betty, Oakley at 9:00 a.m. Admission is free! Contact Jessica M. Gonzales, the City’s Economic Development Specialist at 949-461-3569 or jgonzales@ci.lake-forest.ca.us for more details. You can also check out the attached flyer for a list of speakers and panel discussions. View event flyer
	PREVIOUS EVENT RECAP NEW BUSINESS RECEPTION The inaugural New Business Reception cosponsored by the City of Lake Forest and the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce was held on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, at Lake Forest City Hall. Attendees included approximately sixty business owners who opened a new business in the City of Lake Forest during the past 8 months. Mayor Richard T. Dixon provided opening remarks and welcomed business owners to the City. Attendees received an overview of the City’s Business Development and Attraction Program and the various business resources that make Lake Forest a great place for business! In addition, the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce provided information on the Chamber and the benefits of Chamber membership. New businesses to the city should contact the Redevelopment/Economic Development Department at 949-461-3567 to be added to the mailing list for the next New Business Reception. SECRETS TO SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS: The 2007 signature business event, Secrets to Small Business Success, was held on Friday, March 23, 2007, at Lake Forest City Hall. The event was sponsored by the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the City of Lake Forest. Mayor Pro Tem Mark Tettemer provided welcoming remarks and introduced keynote speaker Sharon Fogg, Vice-President of Marketing for Del Taco. Ms. Fogg offered attendees helpful insights into “knowing your customers” and key ways to market their services. With an estimated attendance of nearly 200 current and prospective business owners, Chamber members received numerous positive feedback and heightened interest in next year’s signature business event. Ranging in topics from “Essentials to Increasing Profitability” to “Leveraging the Internet,” the event provided seminars and panels designed to empower entrepreneurs with tools for economic growth and success. BUSINESS TO BUSINESS FAIR: The Lake Forest Chamber’s signature event for 2006 was held on Friday, May 19, 2006, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Lake Forest Community Center located at 25550 Commercentre Drive. The “Business to Business Fair,” featured a baseball theme with the City of Lake Forest as its “Grand Slam Sponsor.” The event featured Chamber member table-top displays and offered several conference sessions covering topics essential to the new business owners looking to maximize their first year of operation. Seminar topics included professional tips on creating impressive displays at trade shows and other events, effective networking strategies, information about legal issues unique to small business owners, and financial planning advice. PAYROLL TAX SEMINAR Twenty-nine business people attended the City’s free “Basic Payroll Tax” workshop on Friday, August 19, 2005 at City Hall. Presented by the State Employment Development Department, attendees received valuable information on how and when to report state payroll taxes, how to distinguish between an employee and an independent contractor, and ways to receive assistance. MARKETING LUNCH & LEARN Forty business owners attended the City’s free “Marketing Lunch & Learn” workshop on Tuesday, July 19, 2005. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about successful marketing strategies for the small business owner. Speakers included Jan Norman, a business writer for the Orange County “Register” and author of several best-selling books on small businesses; Mike Roessler, director of the Orange County Small Business Development Center; and Robin Noah, consultant with the Service Corps of Retired Executives. PAYROLL TAX SEMINAR The City of Lake Forest held a free Payroll Tax Seminar for Employers of Household Workers on July 20, 2005 at City Hall. Presented by the California State Employment Development Department, attendees received valuable information on topics that included How and When to Register, Employer Obligations, and How and When to Report State Payroll Taxes. BUSINESS BOOT CAMP Over 130 business people attended the 2005 “Business Boot Camp” Conference & Expo on Saturday, May 14, 2005, at Lake Forest City Hall. Eighteen workshops and seminars covered a wide range of business topics including marketing, taxes, human resources, and legal issues as well as an exhibitors’ Expo that showcased local businesses. “Business Boot Camp” was the first event of its kind organized by the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the City of Lake Forest. Attendees were very pleased with the event and Chamber members are looking forward to the next one! BUSINESS LEGAL ISSUES WORKSHOP Over 50 Lake Forest business owners and managers attended the City’s free four hour workshop held on December 1, 2004, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Foothill Ranch. This City sponsored business event included two panel presentations and small group discussions lead by individual local attorneys. Topics discussed included business organization and ownership, financing, real estate and lease agreements, construction, employment issues, regulations, contracts, workers compensation, transfer and succession, and trade secrets. Workshop presentation materials that include outlines of the attorney remarks, their biographies and contact information can be accessed by clicking here. IRS-EDD PAYROLL TAX SEMINAR The City of Lake Forest had 17 attendees at the free joint workshop held on October 14, 2004, by the Internal Revenue Service and the California Employment Development Department. Attendees were provided with valuable information on topics that included learning and understanding the difference between an employee and an independent contractor, the new paid family leave program and other employment related issues. COMMUNITY CELEBRATION AND GROUNDBREAKING On Tuesday morning, September 14, 2004, over 150 people including Lake Forest City Officials, business owners and residents joined in the community celebration and ceremonial groundbreaking for the El Toro Road Traffic & Landscape Improvement Project. The event was a festive celebration of the kick-off for the City’s largest and most significant capital improvement project to date. The mood was truly celebratory with speakers Mayor Peter Herzog, City Manager Bob Dunek, and the Orange County Transportation Authority Director Cassie De Young acknowledging the significance of this road improvement project for all of South Orange County. This important roadway is the heart of traffic circulation within the Arbor on El Toro, the City’s planned revitalized commercial area and shopping district that extends along El Toro Road from the I-5 Freeway to Muirlands Boulevard. Slated for completion in fall of 2005, the project will improve every aspect of this busy gateway into the City of Lake Forest, easing daily commutes and enhancing access to the shopping centers. The project features additional traffic lanes, major improvements at intersections, new landscaping, better access to retail shops, and coordinated traffic signals. “HOW TO START A BUSINESS” WORKSHOP The City had a great turnout for our latest workshop provided as part of our on-going Business Support Program. Over 100 individuals attended this free City sponsored workshop held Saturday, August 7, 2004, at City Hall. Attendees were provided with valuable information on starting and running their own business as well as hearing from experts who explained business regulations, types of business ownership, buying an existing business, and tax issues. A mini business expo gave attendees the opportunity to speak to representatives from the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce, the IRS, the South Orange County Business Service Center, local bankers, commercial realtors, Relationship Building Network, the University of Phoenix, SCORE and the Orange County Small Business Development Center. The keynote speaker was Jan Norman, award-winning business writer for the Orange County “Register” and author of several books on running small businesses. Two successful Lake Forest business owners also shared their lessons learned and paths they traveled to success. This workshop is one of our most popular and is offered twice a year. Our next “How to Start a Business” workshop will be held in January 2005. 2004 COMMUNITY & BUSINESS FAIRE Approximately 5,000 residents attended the 6th Annual “Celebrate Lake Forest” Community & Business Faire held on Saturday, May 22, 2004, at the Towne Centre shopping center in Foothill Ranch. The City of Lake Forest is a major sponsor of this free event and it was organized by the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce. Fun activities included food booths, children rides, displays from local businesses, and entertainment.