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.

EXPLORATION DAY IN THE ARBOR ON EL TORO

The City of Lake Forest held Exploration Day in the Arbor in El Toro on Saturday, April 19, 2008. The event celebrated the successful revitalization of The Orchard and the Home Depot Office/Retail Center and promoted The Arbor as a community focal point that serves as a destination for entertainment, shopping, and community among the residents of Lake Forest and the neighboring regions.

Live entertainment and music were provided throughout the day. Tenant Participation was very strong and included several special discounts and offers, food and beverage samples, as well as coupons and giveaways. A grand raffle was held at the end of the event and included several prizes donated by tenants in the centers as well as businesses from the corporate business parks. It is estimated that over 2,000 residents of Lake Forest and many members of the surrounding communities attended the event. Exploration Day in the Arbor on El Toro served as a great venue with which to encourage the long-term success of the centers and to promote The Arbor on El Toro as Lake Forest’s newest shopping, dining and entertainment district. Stay tuned for future events at The Arbor!


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.