65B - ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN

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Santa Ana Arts Future Community Arts and Cultural Master Plan brings the most relevant of both approaches together with knowledge that is specific to creative business development and Santa Ana's business environment could be an innovative approach to growing a successful creative economy. There is great optimism and drive to create and succeed, despite frustrations with the perceived lack of support from the City related to their business development needs. The most common of which is the often reported high cost of maintaining a business permit and the permitting processes themselves that they feel "slow down progress and innovation." There is the perception that the City is not "entrepreneur friendly." Many want the City to be a "partner in business development" but do not currently experience a positive relationship. Recommendation 3.7: Support and strengthen the burgeoning creative economy in Santa Ana. Initiative 3.1.1: Develop a Creative Economy Master Plan Initiative 3.1.2: Participate in one of the several arts and the creative sector economic impact studies such as the Creative Vitality Index through WESTAF. Initiative 3.1.3: Support the City initiative of IT infrastructure development needed for the creative economy, and fiber optic Internet deployment as part of enabling the digital arts. Implementation Lead: Community Development Agency Implementation Partners: SBA Santa Ana; Santa Ana College; small creative businesses Timeline: Short -Term (Years 1-3); Mid -Term (Years 4-7) for Creative Economy Master Plan Resources: Staff time and infrastructure development costs; Creative Economy planner Metrics: Creative sector access to business development resources and stronger revenues to the local economy Recommendation 3.2: Develop a capacity building initiative for arts and creative enterprises. Initiative 3.2.1: Work with existing workforce and business development programs in the area to create a capacity building initiative for creative start-ups, solopreneurships, and ready to launch businesses. Initiative 3.2.2: Create a mentorship program to pair experienced creative entrepreneurs with those who are starting up or need creative business development advice. Initiative 3.2.3: Investigate incentives for support and formation of small creative businesses including microloans and grants. Initiative 3.2.4: Promote and connect the Freelancers Program at Santa Ana College with the creative community. Implementation Lead: Community Development Agency; City Small Business Office; Arts OC Implementation Partners: Santa Ana College; small creative businesses, artists and cultural organizations, restaurateurs Timeline: Short -Term (Years 1-3) to Mid -Term (Years 4-7) Resources: Staff time; grants to be identified Metrics: Number of successful small, creative businesses; internally defined metrics EE 65B-32