BIZ BITES

Costa Mesa tourism leaders offer incentive package

The Costa Mesa Conference and Visitor Bureau is offering a special incentive for meeting and event planners to bring their business to town — a gift certificate package worth more than $250 in retail, dining and entertainment.

The package, titled “A Gift From Us to You,” includes certificates planners can use at the Orange County Performing Artscenter, the Orange County Market Place and a number of restaurants around the city.

Planners can also personalize the certificates and give them directly to their guests.

“Costa Mesa is unique in its variety of world-class shopping, restaurants and arts amenities,” Tom Smalley, president of the Conference and Visitor Bureau and general manager of the Wyndham Orange County, said in a release.

“We want our clients to know we appreciate their support by providing additional value when they bring their meetings and events to Costa Mesa.”

For more information on the program, call (714) 435-8530 or visit www.travelcostamesa.com.

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Costa Mesa-based military supplier goes green

Ceradyne, a Costa Mesa manufacturer that provided body armor to the United States Armed Forces, has joined the growing list of companies going green by installing energy-efficient lighting.

The company, which has recently filled a number of orders for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, worked with Progressive Lighting and Energy Solutions to install the new lighting at its headquarters.

The system will save Ceradyne $2,150 a month and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 107 tons per year, according to a release from Progressive.

— Michael Miller