Commercial developers converge on Visalia

Local civic officials will get their chance to court commercial developers Thursday at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) meeting in Visalia.

The ICSC’s Visalia Breakfast Program features an opportunity to hear from local retail real estate professionals regarding current trends and future projections for the Central Valley region going into 2013.

The meeting is also a gathering of several of the large commercial developers in the Valley and state — decision makers who help cities land large projects such as River Walk in Porterville.

Also on tap

 Mary Flynn, client services manager, MuniServices; and Bret Harmon, information services manager, MuniServices, will compare sales tax data to provide a retail economic outlook.

 Two panel discussions will take place the first; “Revitalizing Shopping Centers” will be moderated by Ken Hira, senior vice president, Kosmont Companies, who will discuss ways that shopping center renovations attract new tenants to the area. Additionally, Vincent M. Roches, senior director and principal, Pacific Commercial Realty Advisors, will moderate the second panel discussion, “Preparing Communities for Retail — What Can a Community Do to be Ready for New Retail?”

The program begins at 8 a.m. at the Visalia Convention Center.