[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SMALL BUSINESS LEADERS IN LA JOLLA, CA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BRIAN P. BILBRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and admiration that 
I rise to commend a group of small business owners in the downtown 
Village of La Jolla who have contributed thousands of hours to improve 
the economic vitality of this area.
  Starting with a small group of local business owners in 1987, this 
business association named their group ``Promote La Jolla, Inc.'' The 
name identified their goal of developing, maintaining and promoting a 
healthy local business community. Capitalizing on the charming, 
picturesque nature of this 100-year-old seaside Village, they 
identified the visitor industry as a key element to long term economic 
strength and vitality. They worked with local tourism organization and 
developed special hosted day long events to this lively Village by the 
sea along with a promotional program to build positive awareness of La 
Jolla as a very desirable visitor destination.
  Over this ten year period, this small group of business owners 
recognized that achieving economic vitality in a downtown area would 
require a much more complex strategic plan and a broader membership 
base. In 1992, this group of pioneering business owners joined with the 
City of San Diego to form the ``La Jolla Business Improvement 
District.''
  Now, representing over 1,400 businesses covering a 30 block area, the 
La Jolla Business Improvement District is the largest in the State of 
California and one of the largest in the United States.
  Combining the entrepreneurial energy of small business owners along 
with the leadership of this group of 15 dedicated Board members, the 
Promote La Jolla Business Improvement District has developed a 
comprehensive strategy of Promotions and Marketing, Beautification and 
Design, Economic Development and Restructuring.
  This approach to improving economic vitality of the seaside Village 
of La Jolla has made Promote La Jolla Business Improvement District one 
of the leading business organizations in the City of San Diego.
  The founding members of the board: Alexander Bende, Gerhard Klein, 
Robert Carlyle, David Brands and Friedhelm Worunann set the foundation 
for the latest group of board members who continue to donate hundreds 
of hours each year to improving the economic vitality of the historic 
100-year-old downtown Village of La Jolla. This year, Mrs. Bende and 
Mrs. Klein celebrate ten years of dedicated service and executive 
director Christopher Stokes celebrates his fifth year.
  I extend my best wishes to Bill Price, Alexander Bende, Candice 
Stephens, Joyce Snell, Jeff Stone, Gerhard Klein, Joost Bende, Gerhard 
Bendl, John Wolfe, Steve Riddle, Patti Keyes, Beth Dunn, Ron Searfoss, 
and Mike McGeath, the current Board of Directors who have shown the 
continued dedication to make the Village of La Jolla, the ``Jewel of 
the California Coast'' for now and many years to come.

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