Agenda Packet_2022-03-15 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• The City's Public Works Agency continues to actively pursue grant opportunities to fund the design and construction of stormwater capture and flood reduction projects. These multi -benefit projects help improve water quality, increase water supply, address flooding and aging infrastructure issues, and improve the quality of life for Santa Ana residents. 4. Economic Development Element The Economic Development Element strives to address critical issues pertaining to the City's economic base; that is, jobs, business and industry, and the real estate market, all of which contribute to the local tax base. The Element provides a blueprint for directing the City's economic development initiatives over the long term, based upon the strengths in the local economy. • As part of the annual City of Santa Ana budget process, the Economic Development Division identified strategies for business attraction and retention efforts that led to an overall increase in the City's tax base. • The Economic Development Division's partnership with the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce for business retention activities has resulted in the outreach to over 200 local businesses. It was a reduction over previous outreach numbers due to COVIC-19 pandemic. The program, which is designed to outreach and build relationships with local businesses, has gathered pertinent data on the businesses' immediate needs, future plans and opportunities for continued growth in the City. • The Economic Development Division continues to identify and evaluate area job cluster industries. Santa Ana's regional job profile shows strength in government, education employment, biomedical employment, and some advantages in information technology and analytical instruments compared to the rest of the County. • The City's WORK Center, in conjunction with the State of California continues to provide comprehensive employment search and training services for residents in the City. In the last fiscal year 2020/2021, the WORK Center served over 10,000 individuals with services ranging from resume assistance, job training, and job recruitment services. • As an establishing cluster of bio-medical companies has emerged in the industrial area off the 55 Freeway, the Economic Development Division continues to attract these similar cluster businesses to available vacant industrial space in that area. • The City's Economic Development Division continues to disseminate marketing materials on a targeted basis to business prospects within the Southern California region and nationally, as appropriate. • The Economic Development Division continued to identify and promote development opportunities for future business attraction and retention efforts. These efforts included marketing vacant City -owned property to businesses looking to expand as well as redevelopment opportunities for the attraction of new businesses to the City. City Council 25 — 11 3/15/2022