Their goal is to figure out how to keep Charlotte competitive through the economic downturn and bring new jobs into a city that lost hundreds this year.

"We're at the early stages of creating our 2020 vision plan for downtown," Michael Smith of Charlotte Center City Partners said. "That will create a vision for the downtown that we want to become."

The wave of new building nearing completion includes the city's first new nonbank office buildings in a decade.

Charlotte Center City Partners said this will create a 10 percent office vacancy rate in 2010, up from two percent, which is the lowest in the country.

"In this environment, one has to have an open mind toward any company that looks like could have an interest in locating in your city," consultant Tim Nitti said.

Mayor Pat McCrory said Charlotte has to be more innovative now than it has been in the past.

"We have a history of being innovative, but now, in this changing economy, we have to think out of the box," he said.

Meanwhile, officials said they still want to focus on what's been working for decades.

"You've got to play to your strengths," Smith said. "We've got a lot of financial services employees and skills in this town. Those transition to other industries as well, but you'll see a good mix."

But with the uncertainty surrounding the financial industry, the city is hoping to attract a diverse range of companies that will make Charlotte their headquarters.

City leaders said they will look into recruiting companies from industries like technology development, software, insurance and financial services.