13th Annual Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Awards
The 13th Annual Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Award winners have been announced! The Awards recognize outstanding public agencies for implementing policies and programs that cut through red tape, eliminate barriers to economic growth and open the door to private sector jobs creation. Below are the 2023 Winners and Honorable Mentions for each of the six award categories. Learn more about the event!
Business Retention and Expansion
Winner
City of Hope Orange County: Hope is at Work
To combat our state’s dire nurse staffing predicament, City of Hope Orange County teamed up with local colleges and business consortiums in 2022 to recruit over two dozen physician experts and 300 skilled nurses and other employees for City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center.
Honorable Mention
OC Community Resources – OC Community Services: The Orange County Veterans Employment Program
The Orange County Veterans Employment Program (VEP) provides a variety of wraparound and career services designed for active military who are near separation, or who have recently separated, and for their eligible dependents.
Building & Land Reuse and Community Revitalization
Winner
City of Santa Ana: My First Home Down Payment Assistance Loan Program
The City of Santa Ana committed $3 million with its unprecedented Down Payment Assistance Program to help provide homeownership opportunities for lower income households. Last year, 21 families were able to make homeownership a reality.
Incorporating Innovative Technology
Winner
OC Community Resources – OC Community Services – Office on Aging: Access to Technology Program
The Orange County Office on Aging (OoA) Access to Technology Program (ATT) aims to reduce social isolation and increase access to virtual services for older adults and people with disabilities by providing access to technological devices (i.e., iPads), broadband service, and training.
Sustainable and Green Development
Winner
OC Community Resources – OC Parks: Capistrano County Beach and Doheny State Beach Sand Replenishment Project
To address coastal erosion, the Capistrano County Beach and Doheny State Beach Sand Replenishment Project replenishes about 45,000 cubic yards of sand along a 1-mile stretch of beach using repurposed sand from flood control efforts by Orange County Public Works (OCPW).
Public – Private Partnership
Winner
Anaheim Public Library: Foster Youth Initiative 2022
Partnering with CASA OC, Orangewood Foundation, and Covenant House, Anaheim Public Library provided 652 “We’re Here for You” library cards to foster youth and youth in need who do not have a permanent address and/or cannot obtain a parent’s signature.
Honorable Mention
City of San Juan Capistrano: Salida Del Sol
The City of San Juan Capistrano partnered with Jamboree Housing to develop a Permanent Supportive Housing community and a new city hall on the current city hall site. The project will provide onsite supportive housing with services for 40 formerly homeless individuals and veterans.
Leadership In Public Service
Winner
California State Senator Josh Newman 29th District
California State Senator Josh Newman helped secure an $8.5 million grant through the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) allowing RevHubOC to convene leading OC public, private, and non-profit organizations under NorthSTAR to build a social enterprise ecosystem for under-represented and under-resourced communities.
