Population
The city itself has a highly educated population of over 200,000. More than 50 percent of the adult residents have at least a bachelor's degree.

Working Population
The city's population doubles to 400,000 during the work day as employees come in from surrounding cities and counties.

For current statistical information on Orange County's workforce, please visit the Orange County Business Council web site at www.ocbc.org

For current information on California laws and statutes covering training, incentives and a variety of labor related issues, please visit www.calbusiness.ca.gov.

For the most current information on wages, please visit www.bls.gov/oes/oes_dl.htm

Safety
The FBI has named Irvine the "Safest Large City in America" the last four years in a row.

Transport & Logistics
Port of Long Beach - 31 miles; LAX - 43 miles; Port of Los Angeles - 35 miles; San Diego International Airport - 86 miles. Irvine is also located near the 405 and 5 Freeways.

Airports
The 405 and 5 Freeways, the 73 Toll Road, and AMTRAK all border the city.

Motorways
John Wayne/Orange County Airport, LAX, Long Beach, San Diego

Ports
Only 40 minutes from the Port of Long Beach

Business Opportunities in Region
Manufacturing, technology, design, software, and financial services companies in Irvine, including Boeing, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Edwards Lifesciences, Wal-Mart, Ford, Broadcom, Blizzard Entertainment, Ernst & Young, and 3M, have found available, talented workers at all skill levels. In fact, more than one-third of the Fortune 100 companies have a presence in Irvine.

For these reasons and more, Irvine is known as the "Business Capital of Orange County."

Sector Strengths
Business clusters include auto design, life sciences, technology and financial services.

Business Week magazine recently named Irvine as one of the "Best Cities for Riding Out a Recession."

Key Investors in Region
Largest Irvine business employers: Broadcom Corp. (Irvine) - 2,000; Edwards Lifesciences LLC - 1,934; Allergan Inc. - 1,922; Capital Group Companies Inc. - 1,506; and B Braun Medical Inc. - 1,500.
Source: City of Irvine Business Licenses List

New Investments in Region

Private Companies, 2-year revenue growth:
Play N Trade Franchise Inc. (Newport Beach) – 1925.8%
Earthbound Media Group (Irvine) – 525%
Vizio Inc. (Irvine) – 479.8%
Neudesic (Irvine) – 230.5%

Public Companies, 3-year revenue growth:
AMDL (Tustin) – 26373.1%
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (Irvine) – 5540.7%
Ista Pharmaceuticals (Irvine) – 1226.9%
Endologix Inc. (Irvine) – 531.5%
Source: Orange County Business Journal 2009 Book of Lists

Lifestyle
Located in the heart of Orange County, Irvine combines the friendliness, warmth and safety of a small town with the educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities of a large city. As the first and most successful planned community in the nation, Irvine offers its residents wide streets, convenient shopping, and more open "green" space than any other city in Orange County.

Climate
Irvine enjoys the year-round beautiful, sunny climate of Southern California, with an annual average high temperature of 73 degrees Fahrenheit and an average low temperature of 53 degrees Fahrenheit.

Education
Irvine's K-12 students consistently score above state and national averages on standardized tests.

For additional information please visit the Irvine Unified School District Web site at www.iusd.k12.ca.us.

Irvine is home to the University of California, Irvine (www.uci.edu). In addition, there are 15 other universities and colleges located in the city, including University of Southern California; Pepperdine University; Irvine Valley College; Chapman University; Concordia University; California State University, Fullerton; and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.

Neighborhoods
Irvine is made up of eighteen residential neighborhoods (Turtle Ridge, Turtle Rock, Shady Canyon, University Park, Quail Hill, Oak Creek, Woodbridge, West Park, West Park II, El Camino, Portola Springs, Woodbury, Walnut Village, Deerfield, Northpark, Northwood Point, Northwood, Orchard Hills) known as Villages, and two business areas – the Irvine Business Complex and the Irvine Spectrum. Each Village has its own conveniently-located shopping area.

Irvine offers a wide variety of housing options from studio apartments to single-family residences.

Recreation
Approximately halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, Irvine residents have easy access to both. However, Irvine itself has much to offer in the way of recreation and culture. Hiking and biking trails, a water park, museums, sports fields and concert venues are all located in the city.

Community Parks - 18
Neighborhood Parks - 35
Athletic Infields - 41 fields
Sports Fields - 125 acres
Off-Street Bicycle Trails - 40.5 miles
Open Space/Greenbelts - 2,202 acres
Streetscape - 670 acres
Trees - 55,500

Tourist Attractions
Check out theme park thrills at local attractions, ride trail horses and experience the outdoors in a relaxed manner, or introduce your children to an authentic F-16 jet fighter simulator. In Irvine, the attractions, both natural and man-made, are sure to inspire.

Theme Parks
Your children and your inner child will be very glad you stayed in Irvine. Get ready for some outrageous, adrenaline-pumping, endorphin-rushing fun. Yes, it's time to visit Disneyland for a ride on Space Mountain® and a handshake with Mickey. Experience Knott's Berry Farm's 30-story Supreme Scream® roller coaster and Camp Snoopy. Prepare to get soaked on the Liquidator®, a 7-story water slide at Wild Rivers Waterpark. Don't forget to explore three parks in one at Disney's California Adventure® - Golden State, Hollywood Pictures Backlot and Paradise Pier.

Family Fun
Your family will have a lot of fun at some of the most thrilling and exciting venues in Orange County. From state-of-the-art, high-torque, zero-emission Electric Pro Karts to water slides, kiddie-ride parks to miniature golf and batting cages, an unforgettable day awaits your family in Irvine.

Outdoor Activities
The stunning wilderness parks and planned nature preserves take center stage for much of the nature-based activities found in Irvine. with hiking and biking being the most popular. Irvine has more green space than any other city in Orange County.

Irvine is minutes away from beautiful beaches where you can swim, surf, water-ski, charter boats, book a romantic gondola or experience an electric "Duffy" boat.

Irvine is also the home of the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, used for Olympic trials and other swimming and diving competitions.

It can be hard to tell where Irvine stops and the great outdoors begin. Despite its location in the middle of Orange County, the city has an abundance of permanently protected open space and it has become a destination purely for its outdoor adventures. The Irvine Ranch Land Reserve comprises more than fifty thousand acres of permanent, pristine wilderness that attracts hikers, mountain bikers and campers year-round. Irvine also has numerous championship golf courses enticing golfers of all levels. Of course, there are nearby beaches that offer many types of outdoor activity. You might even see California great whales, dolphins, orcas and other marine life, either from the shore or by a boat charter. Not far off the coast, Catalina Island offers an easy day trip from Irvine, filled with adventure.

Arts & Culture
Irvine and the visual arts truly go hand in hand. Internationally-renown museums, dynamic performance theatres, and outstanding architecture create a colorful palette that attracts locals and visitors. It's not just the visual artists who find their muse in this city. Musicians, dancers, actors, writers and chefs find endless ways to express their creativity - contributing to a rich blend of artistic activity. The city is home to the Irvine Barclay Theatre, an intimate venue that attracts world-renowned performers. The Pacific Symphony performs at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and "Under the Stars" at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine. The city also has several museums and is the location of several annual festivals, along with many more around Orange County.

Shops & Restaurants
Fifth Avenue? Rodeo Drive? Think Closer! Irvine is a shopper's dream come true. Enjoy the most sought-after shops and boutiques, without the hassle of New York or L.A. If shopping is your forte, be sure to visit world-famous venues South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island. Both are right around the corner and sure to please even the most discerning shopper. Plus, you won't want to miss the city's own renowned Irvine Spectrum Center, which brings together the most well-known entertainment, shops, and restaurants with local favorites in a fun outdoor setting.

Featuring American and international cuisine, Irvine offers a variety of choices to suit any diner's appetite. If you prefer casual dining, Irvine offers a wide selection of restaurants, bistros and cafes. For that special night out, Irvine offers upscale fine dining with extensive wine lists and incredible views to match the exquisite experience. Whether you have an affinity for great Persian fare, fine French cuisine, or mouth-watering Italian pasta, you will find them all in Irvine.

Housing Prices
The following charts provide a comparison between the cost of living in Irvine, San Diego and San Francisco. Irvine is somewhat less expensive than San Francisco and slightly more expensive than San Diego. If housing costs, which are declining, are removed, Irvine is the least expensive of all three cities.

Cost of Living	San Francisco	San Diego	Irvine	United States
Overall	187	147	169	100
Grocery	122.3	114.7	110.5	100
Health	166	130	119	100
Housing	296	206	275	100
Utilities	144	126	112	100
Transportation	130	112	111	100
Misc.	111	104	105	100

No-Cost Business Assistance
The Chamber’s Office of Business & Economic Development has on-going contacts with officials at all levels of government and can serve as an expediter and problem solver.

With roughly 1,000 member companies in the Chamber, the Office of Business & Economic Development refers companies looking for suppliers to Chamber members.

The Chamber’s Office of Business & Economic Development can arrange a meeting with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Services office which provides expert advice to companies looking to import or export products.

Low-Cost Financing
The Chamber’s Office of Business & Economic Development can arrange a meeting with the U.S. Small Business Administration, a government entity that can provide a guarantee of up to 75 percent of a commercial bank loan, resulting in a lower interest rate for the borrower.

Assessing Foreign Markets
The Chamber’s Office of Business & Economic Development can arrange a meeting with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Services office which provides expert advice to companies looking to import or export products.

Employee Training Funds
The Chamber’s Office of Business & Economic Development can arrange a meeting with a representative of the Orange County Workforce Investment Board (WIB). The WIB provides funds for training and/or retraining employees.

Consulting Services
The Chamber’s Office of Business & Economic Development can arrange a meeting with a consultant from the California Manufacturing Technology Corporation (CMTC). The consultant will visit a company, review its operations and return with a suggested action plan, all at no cost to the company.

Tallia Hart
CEO

Irvine Chamber of Commerce
2485 McCabe Way, Suite 150
Irvine, CA 92614
949-660-9112
949-660-0829 fax
thart@irvinechamber.com
http://www.IrvineEconDev.com
http://www.ThriveInIrvine.com