‘Recovery’ Still Topic of Business Meeting

As surely as it leveled buildings and scattered plans, the Northridge earthquake has provided the San Fernando Valley a chance to reconsider its future.

That opportunity won’t be lost on business leaders who have rescheduled a meeting on the region’s economic future for 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at Airtel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys. The event originally was scheduled for Jan. 25.

“It’s interesting, because the theme of it has been recovery--and that was before the earthquake,” said Fred Gaines, a board member of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. (VICA), which is sponsoring the event.

“We don’t even have to change the theme. We were talking about the recession. People talk about recovery now and they think of the earthquake.”

The workshop will focus on a regional comprehensive plan being developed by the Southern California Assn. of Governments (SCAG), a coalition of elected officials from five Southland counties. The plan attempts to map how the region will develop in the 21st Century.

“It really is the first time anyone has sat down and tried to put together a plan for the entire area,” said Gaines, who also serves on an advisory board to SCAG.

Tickets cost $10 and can be reserved through VICA, through Monday.