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Business & Tech

Poway Business Summit Fast Approaching Sell Out

More than 75 businesses sign up to attend Jan. 26 meeting to explore how to boost city's economy.

Is it the best of times or the worst of times for Poway's business sector?

Civic and business leaders hope to answer that question and others when they gather for the 2011 Business Summit set for Jan. 26 at the .

Paul Byrne, chair-elect of the board at the Poway Chamber of Commerce, a co-sponsor of the event, said more than 75 businesses had already signed up to participate. He said he expects a sell-out of 100 attendees.

Organizers are limiting attendance to 100 because of space limitations, and sign-ups are fast approaching the limit, Byrne said.

"We've gotten tremendous response, and everyone who is coming is very excited," said Byrne, who owns ReadyTech, a San Diego computer consulting firm that does business in Poway.

He said one reason for the expected full house is the agenda, "which seems to resonate with businesses large and small."

"What we are trying to find out from business people is how to create a pro business climate in the city, a more business-to-business friendly environment," he said.

Byrne said organizers hold focus groups in future months to continue the discussion about how to improve Poway's business climate and keep more businesses operating and in the black.

City Councilwoman Merrilee Boyack, the lead event organizer, said, "The economy has been down, so we're thinking of ways we can help fuel growth in the city."

She said the summit has two goals from her point of view as an elected official, and her concern for business of all sizes.

"We want to begin a dialog of what the city can do, what business can do and what the chamber can do to help businesses be more successful," Boyack said. "We are also trying to put assemble a database of companies operating in Poway to better help with business-to-business opportunities and with community partnerships."

She said the database would include as many businesses as possible that are located in Poway.

"We're hoping for a citywide function to help the City better communicate with businesses," she said.

She noted that many business owners have complained about the difficulty of dealing with City Hall, and she hopes to address that topic at the summit.

The city has already set up a task force to look into the business climate and government related business issues, and what should be done to improve relations.

The summit comes at an interesting juncture for the city of Poway, and its relationship with private enterprise.

The City Council will soon tackle the issue of whether or not Wal-Mart Stores Inc. should be allowed to expand its 143,000-square-foot discount store on Community Road near Poway Road into a near 200,000-square-foot super center.

The topic was one of the top issues in the Nov. 2 city council elections in which small business advocate and political newcomer Dave Grosch surprisingly beat out incumbent Carl Kruse.

In December, Dixieline suddenly shuttered its Probuild brand lumber store in the Poway Plaza shopping center six days before Christmas. The closure is symbolic because the center is located across the street from city officials, and most of the store fronts are empty.

The center, which serves as the offices of the Poway Chamber of Commerce, has been severely impacted by the closure of a number of businesses, though leasing agent Cushman & Wakefield has announced the signing of two new restaurant leases for the site two months ago.

Moreover, sales tax revenues, derived from retail sales in the city, increased only 1.26 percent in the 2010 third quarter, one of the lowest gains in the county, which average 4.4 percent.

Boyack said city officials have been unable to account for the poor showing compared to the rest of the county. And she said it' "worrisome." The  tax is a valuable source of revenue for the city, and helps the city provide important services.

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A Public Records Act request filed by Poway Patch showed there were 2,214 active Business Certificates and Regulatory Licenses in 2010, a 19 percent increase compared to 1,853 in 2009. However, the City noted that they believe part of the increase is "due to the renewal of two year Business Certificates in 2010, and the fact that in 2010 the City made renewals much easier by offering them online."

To sign up for the summit, call Rosa Martinez at 858-668-4561, or register at Poway.org.

There is no charge to attend and seating is limited.

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