ORANGE : New Panels to Focus on Retaining Firms

The Orange Chamber of Commerce is taking steps to keep businesses in the city and to meet the needs of smaller companies.

During the past several years, several larger businesses have left the city and the state. One auto parts company recently left Orange for Yuma, Ariz., taking 350 jobs with it.

The businesses are often gone before the chamber realizes there is a problem, said chamber executive director Bret Hunter. Consequently, the chamber’s board last week approved formation of a blue-ribbon committee that will explore how to recognize the potential exodus of a company and retain business in the city.

The chamber board also formed a task force that will research the needs of small business and make recommendations on how it can better serve those companies. The chamber has noted a drop in small business membership, often because small companies cannot afford the minimum $250 membership fee.

The two committees are expected to return to the chamber board with recommendations within two to three months.