Economic Development Implementation Plan - FY 2025-26
Updated July 22, 2025
Grant
Thornton
Recs.
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. Finalize proposed district for Council consideration.
Orange Yards CMO CDD, PW,
Chamber, EDR
Vision of development for a 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.
Develop plan to implement the vision for development
through outreach to property owners, developers, and other stakeholders along with a plan to finance public
infrastructure improvements to support the district.
Village at Orange
Redevelopment CMO CDD Redevelopment of the Village at Orange to revitalize the properties and modernize the center.
Staff have been in discussions with the various property owners at the mall on strategies to redevelop the property. New objective. Work with the various property owners to develop a plan to redevelop the mall.
Define Commercial Zones
Citywide CMO CDD, PW,
Chamber, EDR
Identify the character, potential, and opportunities in commercial zones throughout the city and formulate a
plan to communicate this to investors and developers.
New objective. New objective.
Identify distinct commercial zones in the city and research options to market these areas for investment and
development.
Chapman University
Partnerships CMO Chamber Explore partnerships with various programs at Chapman University to support economic development.New objective. New objective.
Identify programs that could support economic development and develop a plan to connect them with Orange
businesses.
Innovation District CMO Chamber
A sub-district in Orange Yards to support research and
development, business incubation, and workforce
development.
New objective. New objective. Work with educational and health institutions in Orange to develop a vision for an innovation district in Orange Yards.
Business Financing CMO A revolving loan fund to launch businesses in Orange. New objective. New objective. Research options to establish a revolving loan fund to launch impactful businesses in Orange.
Business Retention /
Expansion Progam CMO Finance, CDD,
Chamber
Develop a proactive business retention and expansion
program that focuses on key businesses that contribute
a disproportionate amount of sales tax, transient
occupancy tax, and employment.
New objective. New objective. Develop a plan to launch a proactive business retention program to present for Council consideration.
Experience Orange Shop
Local Program CMO Chamber, EDR Encourage residents to support local 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.
Continue to market the program to new users and
businesses.
Evaluate the effectiveness of Open Rewards and provide
Council with recommendations on the program going
forward.
Tourism Promotion CMO Chamber, EDR Work with the Orange Tourism Council to promote Orange as a visitor destination.
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.
Kosmont completed a market analysis, surveyed incentive programs in other cities and created a hotel incentive toolkit.
Identify properties for hotel development and market those sites to hotel developers.
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.
Present updated film ordinance for Council consideration and develop a program to promote filming in Orange.
Costco CMO CDD, PW Renewed effort to open a Costco in Orange. Orange has been working with Costco for over 30 years to identify a suitable site for a store.
Staff are in discussions with Costco about possible sites in the city.
Work with Costco to find a suitable site in Orange. Identify obstacles that have prevented previous attempts to open a Costco and develop a plan to ensure success.
Business Attraction
Program CMO Chamber
Develop a robust business attraction program that
includes sufficient staffing, technology, marketing
materials, and budget to attend key trade conventions.
New objective. New objective. Develop a plan to launch a robust business attraction program to present for Council consideration.
Development of City-
Owned Properties CMO CDD, PW Development of the Royer Mansion, Cypress houses, and former Fire HQ properties.
Council gave direction to negotiate a lease agreement for Royer Mansion.
Cypress houses are being marketed to prospective tenants.
Council gave direction to negotiate a lease agreement for Royer Mansion. Cypress houses are being marketed to
prospective tenants.
Present lease agreement for Royer to Council for
consideration and provide options for the use of the Cypress houses and former Fire HQ.
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.
Implement the parking management program to support
economic development in Old Towne, evaluate its
effectiveness and respond to business feedback on the new program.
Citywide Zone Development / Reimagined Mall ExperienceChapman / Revolving Loan Fund / Business IncubatorDisneyland "New Front Gate"Integrated Costco DevelopmentCMO = City Manager's Office DMA = Downtown Merchants AssociationPW = Public WorksCDD = Community Development Department