Citizens update MV Business Website
June 5, 2011

A group of six Mission Viejo citizens created and recently updated a website dedicated to attracting new business to Mission Viejo,
http://www.missionviejobusiness.com

It is perhaps the only business development website in California created and maintained by private citizens. Other sites generally are operated by cities or business organizations. The citizen Mission Viejo site is independent of the City of Mission Viejo and thus requires no expenditure of tax dollars.

From the site's home page: "That citizen volunteers produce this website reflects that citizens here welcome new businesses and will be loyal customers and good neighbors."

The volunteers pooled their professional backgrounds in communications, marketing, sales, real estate, management, graphic arts, photography and software engineering in 2004 to create what has been hailed as a polished, informative website. Its popularity makes it one of the first Internet sites to appear on a search for Mission Viejo business information.

The citizen volunteers are Norm Rosenkrantz, Larry Gilbert, Joe Holtzman, Dale Tyler, City Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht and myself, Allan Pilger. Holtzman says the purpose is "Sustaining, Retaining and Gaining" business in Mission Viejo, with valuable information for local businesses thinking of expanding and showing where to purchase goods and services for their own firms from other Mission Viejo businesses. Here's a glimpse of the site:

• The home page theme is "All Roads Lead to Mission Viejo,” a professionally created map showing Mission Viejo as the heart of south Orange County with easy access to the Orange County airport and major commercial and employment centers in the county and beyond. With the city's rectangular shape, virtually all Mission Viejo businesses are within two miles of a freeway or toll way.
• The theme carries over to the site's main site, also titled “All Roads Lead to Mission Viejo," and a second article, "The Crown Valley (Parkway) Corridor," the city's retail, commercial, medical and educational hub. It includes The Shops at Mission Viejo, Kaleidoscope, Mission Hospital and offices and residential buildings on Crown Valley, plus Saddleback College and the import auto mall and more retail on Marguerite south from Crown Valley.
• The site lists City Hall contacts for businesses, but also locations and contacts for all 25 major retail and commercial centers in Mission Viejo, plus regional contacts, both public and civic.
• A history of Mission Viejo and tours of the city in words and photos of many attractions like Lake Mission Viejo, retail centers such as The Shops at Mission Viejo and an abundance of parks and recreational facilities. Demographic and other data, such as the number of businesses in dozens of different business classes in the city, are included.

Gail Reavis, a strong supporter of the citizen website when she was Mission Viejo mayor and a city council member, was asked to preview the updated version. She said, "My hat is off to you and the other selfless volunteers who made this web site happen. It is beautiful and easy to navigate. I am aware that you tried to get the city to link to this site and they have refused you. Too bad, though, because it is a beautiful tribute to our wonderful city."