Economic Development Implementation Plan - FY 2024-25
Updated June 30, 2025
Lead Partners Description Past Progress Status Metrics FY 25 Goal Infrastructure FinancingCMO PW
Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District to fund
infrastructure improvements that support economic
development
Council approved feasibility study on 11/28/23. Study presented at Council on 3/12/24. Explored the possible participation of other agencies.
Preparing to take proposed district for Council
consideration.
$33M (present value)
in net benefit to
General Fund over 50
years if established
Finalize proposed district for Council consideration.
West Katella District CMO CDD, PW,
Chamber, EDR
Create a vision, place branding, and place making
for a resort district on West Katella that is
complimentary to OC Vibe and OC Riverwalk.
Council approved agreement with CityThinkers on 1/23/24, Kosmont on 3/12/24, and CivicBrand on 4/23/24. Held interviews with key property owners in April. Held stakeholder workshop on 6/20/24. Held branding focus groups in Aug/Sept. District vision, branding, and placemaking plan finalized.
Finalized framework plan, branding, and placemaking
plan with presentation to Council in August.
Finalize Vision Plan and place branding and place
making plans for the district. Identify development
feasibility and City policies to encourage desired
development.
Economic Development
Forum CMO Chamber
Convene a stakeholder group to review the
Economic Development Strategy and perform a
SWOT analysis on the economic development
program.
Forum held on 1/17/24.
Incorporated input into Economic Development
Strategy and presented report to City Council.
Developing plan for the next phase in the evolution of
this event.
Forum held on February 3, 2025 at The Richland.
Economic Development
Roundtable CMO Chamber
Assemble a group to meet quarterly, review the
Economic Development Strategy, and guide its
implementation.
Group met on 3/4/24, 6/24/24, and 10/14/24 to review Economic Development Strategy and Implementation Plan.
Meetings held on 3/10 and 7/21, and a subsequent
meeting is scheduled for 10/13 2025.
Hold quarterly meetings to review and provide input
and support for FY 25 Implementation Plan.
Shop Local Program CMO Chamber, EDRDevelop a program to encourage residents to support local businesses.
Experience Orange logo finalized, and agreement with Bludot approved by Council on 3/12/24 for an app-based incentive program to support small, non-chain businesses. Program was soft launched on 6/14/24 and fully launched on 6/25/24.
Over 1,500 people have signed up for the program and
business feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Created a shop local marketing plan to reach new users
and businesses.
1,562 Users; 757
Active Businesses;
$43,165 Total
Rewards; $817,620
Economic Impact
Evaluate the effectiveness of Open Rewards and
provide Council with recommendations on the program
going forward.
Tourism Promotion CMO Chamber, EDR
Create a plan to market Orange as a visitor
destination, work with Chamber to revive Visitors
Bureau, and explore the formation of a Tourism
Improvement District (TIP).
Created Orange Tourism Council (OTC) to promote tourism in Orange.
Exploring the formation of a Tourism Improvement District (TID).
Orange Tourism Council (OTC) is exploring the
formation of a Tourism Promotion District (TID) and
better regional integration in promoting tourism.
Work with Orange Tourism Council to create a visitor
destination marketing plan and present a proposed
Tourism Improvement District for Council consideration.
Hotel Development CMO Create incentives to develop high-end hotels in Orange.
Kosmont completed a market analysis, surveyed incentive programs in other cities and created a hotel incentive toolkit.
Completed Council briefings on the hotel incentive
toolkit. Continue to market Orange as a location for
hotel development
Market Orange as a location for hotel development.
Promote filming in OrangeCMO Film LA, Dodge
Film School
Update film ordinance and create program to
promote filming in Orange.
Met with Film LA and got feedback on updating our ordinance to match industry standards and how to best promote filming. In conversations with Dodge Film School to streamline the permit process.
Preparing a draft film ordinance for presentation to City Council along with a program to streamline permitting
and promote filming in Orange.
Prepare an updated Film Ordinance based on feedback
from Film LA and other industry stakeholders for
Council consideration. Create a program to promote
filming in Orange.
Microtransit Service for
Old Towne Chamber CMO, PW Launch a microtransit service through ATN for Old Towne and surrounding areas.
Funding for vehicles is in place and Council approved $100,000 in operational funding on 3/12/24.
This program cannot move forward until we have filled
a $300,000 operations funding gap. City/Chamber are
exploring funding options.
Launch microtransit service and evaluate its
effectiveness while identifying possible sources of
funding for a permanent service.
Oversaturation of Uses CDD CMO
Prepare a menu of policy options for City Council
to consider to address the proliferation of certain
uses.
City Council briefings were conducted in October and November 2024 to get direction to move forward with preparing policy options. Council approved tobacco ordinances on 6/10/25.
Code Enforcement is working with the City Attorney's
Office on an ordinance for massage businesses.
Present recommended ordinance updates to City
Council for consideration.
Old Towne Parking
Management PW CMO, DMA
Develop and implement parking management
programs to support economic development in Old
Towne.
Held merchant meetings on 1/11/24, 3/13/24, and 10/23. Council approved the program on 2/25/25. Council approved a contract with ACE Parking to implement the program on 6/24/25.
Program implementation is scheduled to begin this fall.
Develop and implement parking management
programs to support economic development in Old
Towne.
Development Review
Streamlining CDD CMO, EDR
Provide the City Council with policy options to
streamline the development review process and
create an expedited process for high priority
projects.
Developed memo to detail streamlining program. CDD is working on ordinance updates to streamline the development review process.
Identify ways to streamline the development review
process and create an expedited process for high
priority projects and present policy options for Council consideration.
CMO = City Manager's OfficePW = Public WorksCDD = Community Development Department