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Anaheim, CA 92805
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www.anaheim.net
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
DATE: JUNE 9, 2026
FROM: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 03
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Motion, approve the Anaheim Economic Development Strategic Plan for 2026-2031.
DISCUSSION:
Background:
On April 2, 2024, the Anaheim City Council adopted Strategic Plan Anaheim 2024- 2034, following nearly a year of community engagement and a City Council workshop on February 10, 2024. A key priority of the Strategic Plan is “Goal F: Promoting economic development and tourism”, which directs the City to pursue initiatives that attract and retain businesses, promote job creation, and sustain a strong, diverse local economy. To achieve this goal, the City Council identified ten strategies, including creating and implementing a strategic economic development plan.
To deliver on this directive, the City engaged Baker Tilly to partner with the Economic Development Department on the development of the Economic Development Strategic Plan 2026-2031. Over the past 12 months, Baker Tilly and City staff reviewed operations, procedures, funding, and service capacity; conducted community engagement, and gathered input from businesses, developers, property owners, brokers, residents, City Council, and City departments.
At the City Council meeting of May 12, 2026, staff agendized a review of the draft Economic Development Strategic Plan 2026-2031 and requested direction from the City Council as necessary. Following discussion, the City Council voted to continue the item and directed staff to place it on the Consent Calendar for the June 9, 2026 meeting.
Based on input provided during the May 12 City Council meeting and subsequent follow-up meetings with Council Members, staff has revised the Economic Development Strategic Plan 2026-2031 for consideration.
Anaheim Economic Development Strategic Plan 2026-2031
June 9, 2026
Key revisions include:
Revised business attraction efforts to emphasize quality jobs, wages, and General Fund revenues by adding an action to recruit anchor employers in high-growth sectors.
Revised Goal B title to better reflect the City’s role in supporting tourism, hospitality, sports, and entertainment industries.
Added an action to participate in the Orange County Business Council’s International Business Attraction Program and Committee to position Anaheim for global business attraction opportunities.
Added an action to support formation of a Business Improvement District for Little Arabia.
Added an action to support proactive code enforcement efforts to address commercial blight.
Added a new strategy to evaluate City-owned properties for revenue-generating opportunities.
Strategic Plan:
The Anaheim Economic Development Strategic Plan 2026-2031, “the Economic Development Strategic Plan” (attached) provides a five-year roadmap with five primary goals, supported by targeted strategies and time-phased actions to strengthen Anaheim’s economic engines, improve the experience of doing business, and support inclusive prosperity. It is a roadmap for Economic Development for the City and provides guidance and focus for the newly established Economic Development Department.
The Strategic Plan has five multiyear goals. Each goal has an associated set of strategies and action items for the success of the plan.
Goal A: Attract and Retain Businesses
Goal B: Support Tourism, Hospitality, Sports and Entertainment Goal C: Support Small Businesses
Goal D: Revitalize Commercial Corridors
Goal E: Assess Departmental Structure and Sustainable Funding Strategies Implementation will strengthen cross-departmental coordination to accelerate private investment; improve processes and customer service so businesses feel welcomed and supported; reinforce stewardship so commercial corridors are clean, attractive, and safe; and sustain Anaheim’s position as a premier destination for tourism, leisure, living, business, and creativity. The City will revisit the Economic Development Strategic Plan annually to track progress and key performance indicators. The Economic Development Strategic Plan may need to be revisited, as priorities and conditions change.
Anaheim Economic Development Strategic Plan 2026-2031
June 9, 2026
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The Economic Development Strategic Plan covers a span of five (5) years and prioritizes certain strategies/projects throughout this duration with varying budget implications. As specific initiatives are considered, the items will be brought before the City Council for approval, and the specific budget impact will be addressed at that time. There is no budgetary impact associated with reviewing the draft plan.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sergio M. Ramirez
Director of Economic Development
Attachment:
1. Anaheim Economic Development Strategic Plan 2026-2031