NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL’S 12th ANNUAL “TURNING RED TAPE INTO RED CARPET” AWARDS

Who turns red tape into red carpet in your community? IRVINE, CA (July 24, 2022)—Orange County Business Council (OCBC) has announced the opening of nominations for its 12th annual Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet Awards. The awards honor local agencies, leaders, programs, and public-private sector partnerships that cut through red tape and encourage jobs and economic growth in Orange County. Since its inception in 2010, the Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet Awards program has grown to include over 40 nominees annually, including cities, special districts and educational institutions, among others, that showcase groundbreaking and cost-reducing government programs in Orange County. The awards program has inspired organizations across the state of California to create similar recognition programs including the California Association for Local Economic Development’s annual “Awards of Excellence” program and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership’s “Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet” awards. Award categories include Business Retention and Expansion, Building & Land Reuse and Community Revitalization, Incorporating Innovative Technology, and Sustainable and Green Development. The Public-Private Partnership Award is presented to the nominee demonstrating a steadfast commitment to public-private collaboration, while the Leadership in Public Service awards honors an outstanding leader in the public sector who is advancing economic development in the community. Entries are judged by a group of Orange County Business Council board members representing a diverse professional background. Winners will be recognized at an in-person awards reception on Thursday, November 17, 2022 in Irvine. Past winners have included Fullerton’s CARES Act Programs, Santa Ana’s Heroes Landing, Irvine’s IrvineREADY!, Placentia’s Veterans Village, Huntington Beach’s OneHB Supporting Local Business, County of Orange Chief Executive Officer Frank Kim, and the County of Orange Clerk-Recorder for its Hitched at Honda Center event. IF YOU SUBMIT AN APPLICATION: Nomination Application: Online Application Nomination Deadline: Friday, September 9, 2022 Submit Application: Online Entry Fee: $125 per nomination. No limit on application submissions. Awards Reception: Thursday, November 17, 2022 in Irvine. For more information: Visit www.ocbc.org/event/TurningRedTapeIntoRedCarpet or contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, at 949.794.7209 or [email protected].   About Orange County Business Council For over 25 years, Orange County Business Council (OCBC) has been representing and promoting the region’s business community together with government and academia to enhance Orange County’s economic development. The Council’s core initiatives include advocating for adequate investment in regional and statewide infrastructure, education development that leads to a competitive workforce, advocating for a supply and range of housing for the workforce, developing pro-business solutions that lead to economic growth, and quality of life. Member organizations include businesses and local organizations representing a diverse cross section of industries including biomedical, construction, education, financial services, health care, manufacturing, municipalities, nonprofit, real estate, technology, tourism, transportation, real estate and utilities. For more information, visit www.ocbc.org.