He joined a panel from the entertainment, transportation and health-care industries Thursday in Burbank. Presented by Business Life magazine and host Woodbury University, federal small-business officials and a leader from the governor’s recovery task force focused their comments on economic resurgence through access to capital and job creation.
Despite the proliferation of federal stimulus money coming into the state, business owners and entrepreneurs are still largely mystified about how they can get in on the action, said Greg Krikorian, co-owner of Business Life and Senior Living magazines.
“America is at a major crossroads right now, and we need each other’s help,” said Krikorian, vice president of the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education. “We’re all treading water.”
One of his goals was bridging the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys.
“We want you to leave knowing that you’re not alone. We do care,” he said.
For those looking to break into industries in Burbank and Glendale, that could be facilitated by officials by maintaining clean streets and a safe environment, and then “getting out of the way,” said Burbank City Manager Mike Flad.
Or it could mean a symbiotic relationship, involving various city departments or its newly formed economic development team. The forum, he said, was an opportunity for folks to listen and gain a better understanding of the challenges and available resources.
“I’ve never seen government move more quickly than I have in the past year,” said Jennifer Grutzius, chief of staff for the state Recovery Task Force, charged with tracking federal stimulus dollars and helping cities, counties and nonprofits access available funding.
