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7 <br /> <br />• As part of the annual City of Santa Ana budget process, the Economic <br />Development Division identified strategies for business attraction and retention <br />efforts that led to an overall increase in the City’s tax base. <br />• The Economic Development Division’s partnership with the Santa Ana Chamber <br />of Commerce for business retention activities has resulted in the outreach to over <br />400 local businesses. The program, which is designed to outreach and build <br />relationships with local businesses, has gathered pertinent data on the businesses’ <br />immediate needs, future plans and opportunities for continued growth in the City. <br />• The Economic Development Division continues to identify and evaluate area job <br />cluster industries. Santa Ana’s regional job profile shows strength in education <br />employment, biomedical employment, and some advantages in information <br />technology and analytical instruments compared to the rest of the County. <br />• The City’s WORK Center, in conjunction with the State of California continues to <br />provide comprehensive employment search and training services for residents in <br />the City. In the last fiscal year 2019/2020, the WORK Center served over 12,000 <br />individuals with services ranging from resume assistance, job training, and job <br />recruitment services. <br />• As an establishing cluster of bio-medical companies has emerged in the industrial <br />area off the 55 Freeway, the Economic Development Division continues to attract <br />these similar cluster businesses to available vacant industrial space in that area. <br />• In conjunction with preparation of an annual economic development strategy, the <br />City Economic Development Division disseminates marketing materials on a <br />targeted basis to business prospects within the Southern California region and <br />nationally, as appropriate <br />• As part of the City’s goal to leverage private investment that results in tax base <br />expansion and job creation Citywide, Economic Development Division staff <br />attended the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) retail convention in <br />Los Angeles. Historically, the convention was attended by over 35,000 retailers, <br />developers, brokers, and cities representing 58 countries who gather for deal <br />making, networking and education. Staff met with various developers, brokers and <br />potential new businesses interested in locating or investing in Santa Ana. Due to <br />COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 events were cancelled, but the convention is <br />expected to resume back up in 2021. <br />• In conjunction with the preparation of an annual economic development strategy, <br />identify specific business attraction, as well as retention targets. The Economic <br />Development Division continued to identify and promote development <br />opportunities for future business attraction and retention efforts. These efforts <br />included marketing vacant City-owned property to businesses looking to expand <br />as well as redevelopment opportunities for the attraction of new businesses to the <br />City. <br />• Conduct individual cost/revenue and cost/benefit analyses of major development <br />projects to assist the policy level decision-making process. The Economic