Be it the goods movement, green business practices or networking, you’ll find it in large supply at the first ever region-wide Valley Business Expo. The event takes place Feb. 5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Pickwick Gardens Conference Center in Burbank. Presented by the Valley Economic Alliance, with the Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA), Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC) and United Chambers of Commerce (UCC) serving as co-presenters, a major goal of the event is to provide businesses with ways to weather the economic crisis. There will be workshops, one-on-one procurement sessions, topical panel presentations and more than 75 exhibit booths. Workshops being held reflect the nation’s rocky economy. They include “Financing Your Business in a Tough Credit Market,” “Mega Ideas on How to Market Your Business” and “Growing Your Business through International Trade in a World Marketplace.” The Exhibit Hall will also play a large role in the expo, with interactive exhibit “TransPORTer” serving as the main draw. In that exhibit, attendees will learn about best practices for global import and export, the regional goods movement and the Port of Los Angeles. Expo organizers are also abuzz about the Green Technology pavilion, the VEDC’s loan center and UCC’s networking Mega Mixer, taking place from 5 to 8 p.m. Information: (818) 379-7000 or www.economicalliance.org. – Nadra Kareem
