South County : Chamber Outlines Plan for New Business Center

Plans for a center to help businesses are among the new fiscal year goals of the South Orange County Chamber of Commerce.

Pat Crockett, president of the newly renamed chamber, which is based in Laguna Hills, said Monday that the organization wants to establish a South Orange County Center for Economic Development. “It would be something to help our existing businesses expand and do the things they want to do, and also a center to help new businesses that want to come into south Orange County,” she said.

Crockett said other goals of the chamber will be to continue to seek federal relief from some recent changes in the federal income tax law that have caused problems and confusion for businesses.

The organization was formerly known as the Saddleback Regional Chamber of Commerce, and its new name becomes effective Saturday, coinciding with the beginning of a new fiscal year.

The chamber installed officers at its recent dinner-dance at the Irvine Hilton and Towers. George Walsh of San Clemente is the chamber’s new chairman of the board, and Elaine Carter of Coto de Caza is chairwoman-elect.