IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - Nov 17, 2011) - Orange County Business Council today announced the award winners of the inaugural Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet Awards. The awards program was developed to recognize leaders in local government whose policies and programs eliminate the barriers to economic growth and private sector jobs creation.
The award winners are:
Award for Business Retention and Expansion
City of Huntington Beach: Ten Point Plan for Local Business
The Ten Point Plan was developed by the City of Huntington Beach to achieve improved business retention and expansion efforts in Huntington Beach, and to further position the city as business-friendly. The ten points include providing critical information and access to businesses so they can thrive, streamlining development processes, enhancing customer service standards, expanding funding resources for small businesses, and expanding economic development programs.
Three additional programs were selected to receive honorable mentions in the category of Business Retention and Expansion.
Orange County Health Care Agency: E-Submit Business Portal: Connecting Orange County
This portal was developed to assist businesses operating in the realm of hazardous materials overcome the administrative burden associated with the submittal of various forms and applications required by California laws and regulations.
Anaheim Union High School District: Developer Impact Fees Deferral Program
The goal of this program is to stimulate housing construction by providing builders with fee deferral incentives, resulting in the production of more quality housing and creating needed jobs for the local economy, directly and indirectly.
City of Newport Beach: Community Development Reorganization
With the goal of providing excellent customer service, the City of Newport Beach initiated a significant transformation project to improve its developmental-related services for local businesses by combining previously distinct city departments and divisions into a unified Community Development Department.
Award for Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse
City of Anaheim: ARTIC
ARTIC will serve as a hub for Orange County and the region, a landmark where freeways, major arterials, bus routes and Orange County's backbone rail transit system converge. The station will accommodate passenger arrivals, departures and transfers with supporting retail, restaurants and passenger services within the building. This project will transform the way business can move its people and goods throughout Orange County, enhancing the region's economic development with an eye for sustainability. ARTIC is an excellent example of the public sector taking on, and completing, the risks of land entitlement, zoning and environmental cleanup, and preparing the land for both public and private sector development when the economy recovers. The private sector benefits with certainty, early efficiencies and cost savings in planning for ultimate development uses that may include commercial, retail and residential, as well as a world-class transportation center benefiting all of Orange County.
Award for Responding to Globalization
City of Irvine
The City of Irvine is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in global strategies and outreach. Through the leadership of the Irvine City Council under Mayor Sukhee Kang, the City of Irvine has transformed into an international community and crossroads, hosting renowned programs including the Sister Cities, Irvine Global Village, and "friendship trips" to international destinations to bolster Irvine's reputation as an international, global business, community. Because of the City's proactive efforts to attract new businesses to Irvine, many multinational companies have re-located their corporate headquarters or regional offices to Irvine, including Toshiba, Hyundai, Cisco-Linksys, and Google.
Award for Sustainable and Green Development (2 winners)
John Wayne Airport: Central Utility Plant
The Central Utility Plant provides for the long-term sustainability of John Wayne Airport's operations while being financially and environmentally responsible. This project increases the airport's ability to provide an uninterruptible and reliable source of electricity to the Terminal complex by supplying approximately 95% of the Airport's power needs. Construction of the Plant furthered economic development in Orange County by generating nearly 7,000 jobs. Every one dollar invested in the Airport's Capital Investment Program results in more than two dollars circulated back into the economy, equaling more than one billion dollars into the local community. This is a project that strikes a balance between environmentally sound practices and economic development.
City of Anaheim: Water Recycling Demonstration Plant
The Water Recycling Demonstration facility is a 100,000 gallon per day wastewater treatment facility that can save up to 35 million gallons a year of imported water -- enough to serve about 220 households. The facility will treat wastewater taken from an existing sewer line to meet State reuse standards and provide recycled water for the community. This innovative and bold project sets the standard in environmentally sound planning and ensures Anaheim's water needs can be met well into the future.
Award for Public-Private Partnership
OC Public Works: Ortega Highway Widening Project
This project is to widen the Ortega Highway from two to four lanes from the Orange County, City of San Juan Capistrano boundary to approximately 1,900 feet east of the Antonio, La Pata intersection. The primary purpose was to expedite the implementation of the project through innovative features, while providing traffic congestion relief and safer access for the general public. The project is recognized for extensive collaboration between public agencies and private partners. This project represented the truest example of a public-private partnership.
Award for Public Sector Leadership
Supervisor Bill Campbell, County of Orange
Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell is a visionary in the renewable energy and economic development fields. He has led the efforts to move the County of Orange, a county of over three million residents and numerous high-powered businesses, to becoming a leader in renewable energy. He views renewable energy as good for business, as a way to reduce costs and to protect the environment. Supervisor Campbell has been a true champion in advocating for renewable energy programs and economic development in Orange County. As Chairman of the Board, Campbell led in the development of the County's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and in property tax equity for Orange County just this week.
Awards will be presented to the winners at the Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet Awards Reception, sponsored by JP Morgan Chase, on November 17 at Mastro's Steakhouse in Costa Mesa from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Award winners will be available to speak with the media from 4:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
"Chase has a long history of financing and lending to both the public and private sector. In 2011, JPMorgan Chase provided more than $50.3 billion in financing and lending to metropolitan area governments and non-profits across the country and lent more than $12.6 billion to small businesses," said Paul Kaufman, middle market commercial banking manager for Chase.
"We look forward to continuing to work with municipalities and non-profits to celebrate opportunities that make our communities prosperous. As such, we are honored to join the Orange County Business Council in recognizing the government programs and policies that eliminate the 'red tape' that hampers economic development, growth and job creation."
Award winners were selected by the Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet committee, chaired by Dan Miller, past Chairman of OCBC and Senior Vice President of Entitlement and Public Affairs at The Irvine Company. The nominated organizations include Orange County cities, school districts, county agencies and special districts. Each have successfully taken on the challenge of laying out the "red carpet" to business through innovative projects that cut regulations, reduce fees and streamline processes.
Event Details:
Thursday, November 17, 2011
4:45 p.m. - Media Briefing
5:00 p.m. - Registration
5:30 p.m. - Program
7:30 p.m. - Adjourn
Mastro's Steakhouse
633 Anton Boulevard
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Media interested in attending the reception should contact Katherine Reedy, Director of Communications, at kreedy@ocbc.org or 949.794.7221.
About OCBC:
Orange County Business Council is the leading voice of business in Orange County, California. OCBC represents and promotes the business community, working with government and academia, to enhance Orange County's economic development and prosperity in order to preserve a high quality of life. OCBC serves member and investor businesses with nearly 250,000 employees and 2,000,000 worldwide. In providing a proactive forum for business and supporting organizations, OCBC helps assure the financial growth of America's sixth largest county. For more information, visit www.ocbc.org.
Contact Information:
CONTACT:
Katherine Reedy
Director of Communications
949.794.7221