ESCONDIDO —— The San Diego North Economic Development Council gave more details about a new program to help small businesses and identified 12 local business clusters at its 2005 Holiday Luncheon and Awards Presentation, held Wednesday at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

The council's Center for Entreprenomics is aimed at helping small businesses get off to a good start by making the most effective use of their limited resources and avoiding common mistakes. It can be reached through the council at (760) 598-9311 or on the Web at www.entreprenomics.com.

Gary Knight, president and chief executive of the council, said small businesses are the foundation of North County's economy.

"Ninety-five percent of businesses in North County have five or fewer employees," Knight said. "We're letting them know help is out there."

Starting in January, the council will publicize one of the business clusters each month, he said. The council will release a report of each month's highlighted business cluster, focusing on its contributions to North County.

The clusters are: tourism/gaming, banking/finance, manufacturing, sports and extreme sports, agriculture, health care, military/defense, education, biotech, high tech, transportation, and marketing and communications. A centerpiece arrangement at each table symbolized the clusters by bearing items representing each industry.

The council also gave awards to businesses and individuals for their service to North County.

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. received the Private Partner of the Year award; Palomar Pomerado Health was named Public Partner of the Year; Joe Gabaldon of Cox Communications, and former chairman of the council, received the Leadership Award; and Supervisor Bill Horn, a major supporter of the council, received the Chairman's Award.

A report on the North County economy will be released early next year, Knight said. The "San Diego North Economic Outlook" will be released on Feb. 7. It will be available at a council dinner event held at 6 p.m., also at the Center for the Arts in Escondido.

Contact staff writer Bradley J. Fikes at (760) 739-6641 or bfikes@nctimes.com.