Drive Aims to Lure Relocating Firms

A coalition of San Fernando Valley business leaders is moving to lure to the Valley and eastern Ventura County a larger share of companies relocating to Southern California.

The Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. soon will begin supplying demographic and promotional materials to Los Angeles city officials who handle relocation inquiries from out-of-town firms, according to Bill Miller, the association’s president.

The effort is part of a campaign to make the 34-year-old industrial group more visible in the Valley area as well as outside of it Valley, Miller said, adding, “We’ve decided to be more vocal.”

The 400-member organization will “aggressively” push for transportation improvements and for adequate water supplies, Miller said. It will also take positions on land-use and development issues in the San Fernando, Conejo, Simi and Santa Clarita valleys.

The new promotional effort will use demographic data being developed by California State University, Northridge.

Other officers for 1985 include president-elect Ross B. Hopkins, public affairs manager of Lockheed-California Co.; and vice presidents Earl G. Burke, plant manager, Anheuser-Busch Inc.; Sanford P. Paris, owner of Paris Industrial Parks; Maury Rosas, district manager of Pacific Bell; Peter Steinmann, president of Premier Bank, and Jerome T. Wainess, general manager , Saks Fifth Avenue in Woodland Hills.

Treasurer is Alan S. Kennan of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. Peter Soohoo, a conservation and utilities consultant with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, is secretary.