Orange County Community Services Division (OCCS)
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2019-2023)
Reporting Period: 2019-2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Economic Development
- Workforce Development
- Infrastructure Development
- Community Development (Red Zone areas)
Environmental Achievements
- Decreased number of Red Zone areas in Orange County from 71 to 55 (-28%) since the implementation of the 2013-2018 CEDS.
Social Achievements
- Improved conditions in Orange County’s “Red Zone” areas with higher than average unemployment and lower than average per capita income.
- Increased access to transportation in Red Zone areas through projects like the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) and the Santa Ana/Garden Grove Fixed Guideway project.
Governance Achievements
- Development and submission of the 2019-2023 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) report to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve at least $50 million in county-wide private investment after implementation of the 2019 CEDS Report.
Medium-term Goals:
- Grow at least 5,000 jobs in key priority clusters in the next five years.
Short-term Goals:
- Undertake at least two economic development investments around Red Zones, with emphasis on infrastructure and transit-transportation centers.
Environmental Challenges
- Skills Gap (discrepancy between employer needs and employee skills)
- Uneven economic growth across Orange County, with economically disadvantaged areas (Red Zones) lagging behind.
- High cost of living and lack of affordable housing.
- High proportion of English Language Learners (ELLs).
- Increasing pressure on transportation and infrastructure systems.
- Technological disruption of traditional industries.
- Aging population.
Mitigation Strategies
- Partnerships between community colleges, certification programs, and local employers to address the Skills Gap.
- Targeted EDA project proposals in Red Zone areas.
- Accessible, affordable training and certification programs.
- Improved access to community college programs.
- Improved quality and accessibility of English language programs.
- Implementation of OC Go (Measure M2) program for transportation improvements.
- Repurposing underperforming retail centers into housing developments.
- Expansion of broadband connectivity.