HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 06 - Presentation Economic Development
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
DRIVING REVENUE & BUSINESS GROWTH
Economic Development Update to City Council
MAY 5, 2026
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WHAT WE DO
Economic Development helps businesses:
Our work helps generate revenue, create jobs, attract private investment, and strengthen Santa Ana’s long-term fiscal health.
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HOW WE SUPPORT BUSINESSES
Supporting Businesses at Every Stage
Hands-on support to help businesses start, grow, and navigate City processes
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MAKING IT EASIER TO DO BUSINESS
Cross-Department Coordination
Planning & Building
Public Works
Workforce Partners
Permit Streamlining = Faster approvals
PBx,
POD Service
Accela
Infrastructure Coordination
Utility access
Site readiness support
Safe business environment
Attend business meetings (SC Metro Alliance, Bristol)
602 Form (Trespassing)
Job Pipelines
Hiring events
Employer connections
Police
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5,685
new businesses licenses
Top 100
Revenue generating business visits
entrepreneurs assisted at the Business Assistance Office
300+
Business Hotline calls
250+
attendees at the monthly Business Startup workshops
200+
grants disbursed to program participants (Asociación de Emprendedor@s)
$29K
businesses completed the Asociación de Emprendedor@s program
84
Business Concierge & Resources
DELIVERED
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$57.5K
invested in business start-up grants
53,839
hours of paid work experience provided to youth interns (SAY Program)
Job seekers supported at Santa Ana WORK Center
1,697
invested in workforce services
$550K+
DELIVERED
Business Grants & Employment Services
1,200+
Apprenticeship fair attendees
4,100+
Employers engaged for job fairs
212+
Job seekers served at11 job fairs hosted by the Santa Ana WORK Center
youth successfully placed in paid professional positions (SAY Program) & 92 have been hired permanently
714
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$150K
invested into Art Walk
43
Artist grants awarded with a total of $380K funded
attendees at the Sahuayo Sister Cities Business Expo (’25 & ’26)
2,500+
Sahuayo Sister Cities Mural Collaboration in DTSA
Hosted the Vietnamese Business Forum
$150K
funded to Bridging the Graffiti Arts Program (G.A.P) with 50 students successfully completing the program
Arts and Culture
DELIVERED
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Step-by-step startup guide
Our Business Startup Roadmap provides step-by-step guidance, including industry-specific guides, to help entrepreneurs navigate requirements, timelines, and next steps with confidence.
BUSINESS START-UP GUIDES
Helping Businesses Launch
Industry Guides:
Starting a Business Road Map
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Using Digital Tools to Support Visibility, Growth, and Attraction
MARKETING & BUSINESS
PROMOTION
Promoting Santa Ana Businesses
12,000+
Views on Made in Santa Ana videos across all platforms
10,000+
Subscribers to Monthly Newsletter
Social Media Accounts:
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
200,000+
Views from Collab posts with businesses & influencers
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RECENT BUSINESSES CHOOSING SANTA ANA
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BUSINESS EXPANSIONS
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MainPlace Mall
2800 N. Main Street
The Carina & Culinary District
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Related Bristol
3600 S. Bristol Street
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Robinson Pharma
3501 W. Segerstrom Ave.
Expansion
15
Anduril Industries
3100 S. Harbor Blvd.
Harbor Logistics Center
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Dyer Distribution Center
300 E. Dyer Rd.
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RETAIL VACANCY COMPARISON
Retail vacancy remains low and competitive
Percentage
4.1%
9.6%
4.35%
4.1%
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OFFICE VACANCY COMPARISON
Airport-area inventory impacts Santa Ana totals
Percentage
Santa Ana Airport office submarket vacancy: 22.5%
(10.05% -Core of Santa Ana)
16.15%
13.80%
12.86%
13.52%
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INDUSTRIAL
VACANCY COMPARISON
Santa Ana remains highly competitive in industrial occupancy
Percentage
4.08%
6.62%
8.92%
5.79%
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SANTA ANA
DEVELOPMENT MOMENTUM
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Advancing Hotel Opportunities in Santa Ana
Hotel Feasibility Study
Cannabis Friendly Hotel
Hampton Inn (near Bowers Museum)
Ayres Hotel site discussions
Previous hotel proposal: Brookhollow Hotel Site (Former Crazy Horse Saloon)
HOTEL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY & OPPORTUNITY
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Public Realm Plans
GENERAL PLAN:
FIVE FOCUS AREAS
South Main Street
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2
Grand Avenue/17th Street
West Santa Ana Boulevard
55 Freeway/Dyer Road
3
4
5
South Bristol Street
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Citywide Priorities
KEY INITIATIVE:
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Retain and expand existing businesses (industry clusters)
1
2
Attract new investment and quality jobs
Strengthen workforce partnerships
Support arts, culture, and placemaking
3
4
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Revitalization
KEY INITIATIVE:
DOWNTOWN SANTA ANA
Support downtown businesses and retention
1
2
Increase foot traffic through events and marketing
Improve cleanliness, safety, and visitor experience
Prepare for Streetcar opportunities and growth
3
4
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Ground Floor Activation
KEY INITIATIVE: MIXED-USE
Identify mixed-use vacancies citywide
1
2
Recruit restaurants, retail, and service businesses
Activate spaces with new business concepts
Reduce barriers through City coordination
3
4
Mixed-Use Development in Action: Central Pointe & Watermarke
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KEY INTIATIVE:
VACANT ⟶ VIBRANT
Identify vacant storefronts and properties
1
2
Engage property owners and brokers
Market sites to prospective tenants
Assist businesses through City permitting process
3
4
Activate Vacant Commercial Spaces
HARBOR
DOWNTOWN
17th ST.
1st ST.
S. MAIN ST.
BRISTOL
147+
commercial
properties
identified
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EXPLORING REVENUE
OPPORTUNITIES
City-Owned Advertising
Film/Creative Economy
Creates new passive revenue
Expands production activity
Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC)
Santa Ana Stadium
Arts & Entertainment
District
Expand event and revenue potential
Drives tourism and activity
Tenant attraction and development of property around SARTC
Vacant Property Activation
Incentivizes underused sites
Willowick Redevelopment
Strategic partnership potential
Civic Center Revitalization Master Plan
Master Plan
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THANK YOU
Our goal is to position Santa Ana for long-term economic success through:
Revenue Growth
Job Creation
Business Investment
Stronger Commercial Corridors
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