Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Awards

Nominees

2025 Nominees

Launched in 2010, Orange County’s groundbreaking awards program, Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet, has become a model program implemented by cities across the country. The awards honor outstanding local agencies, programs and public-private partnerships that cut through red tape and encourage jobs and economic growth in Orange County.

The 14th Annual Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Award honorees will be announced live at OCBC’s 2025 Annual Dinner and Installation of the Board of Directors on February 27, 2025, in Anaheim.

Below are the 2025 nominees for each of the three award categories.

Below are the 2025 nominees for each of the three award categories.

2025 Nominees Announced Soon

Economic Development

Nominees

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire: Big Brothers Big Sisters Workplace Mentoring Program, Featuring Disneyland

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County’s Workplace Mentoring Program addresses the region’s labor shortage by connecting high school and college students with industry leaders at local corporations and institutions. Partners in 2023 included Golden State Foods, Google, JPMorgan Chase, Cypress College, Santa Ana College and Cal State Fullerton with inaugural partner Disneyland helping to set the stage. By offering tailored mentoring and career guidance, the program ensures that students have the resources and confidence to succeed.

City of Costa Mesa: Bike Rack Program

Due to its numerous mixed-land use settings throughout the city, Costa Mesa benefits from heavy pedestrian activity. Looking to increase foot traffic for local businesses, the city implemented the Bike Rack Program which increased the number of bike racks and foot traffic in front of commercial spaces.

City of Costa Mesa: Totally Electronic Self-Service Application (TESSA)

The City of Costa Mesa streamlined its land management and permitting systems into one centralized application system called Totally Electronic Self-Service Application, or TESSA. The digital platform used across all departments has reduced processing time, allowing projects to launch sooner. Moreover, the city partnered with local universities to provide part-time roles to interns giving them hands-on experience in developing a centralized application system.

City of Santa Ana: Planning and Building Agency Express Permit Program (PBx)

The City of Santa Ana’s Planning and Building agency launched PBx, short for Planning and Building Express, an express permit service that allows customers to get same-day permits at the Building Safety Division counter. Since the program’s launch, wait and service times have been reduced. With the success of the program, the city is assessing other areas to expand PBx services such as Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permitting services.

County of Orange, Treasurer-Tax Collector: Cutting Red Tape to Deliver Cost-Effective Tax Bills That Save Taxpayer Funds

To innovate the secured property tax bill process, the County of Orange replaced traditional tax bills with postcards. The new process reduced printing and postage costs, time, while continuing to provide taxpayers secure information and introducing many to the County’s online resources.

Office of Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen: Bridging Distances for Love: Orange County Clerk-Recorder’s Virtual Marriage Ceremony Initiative

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder launched the Virtual Marriage Ceremony Initiative at three county sites to enable couples to live-stream their marriage ceremony to guests unable to attend in person. Since the launch of the program, the County Clerk-Recorder’s office has facilitated 10,377 ceremonies and having the most affordable civil ceremony fee in the state, $28, the program has drawn couples from across the region, helping to boost the local economy.

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA): OCTA Headquarters Acquisition

With responsible fiscal management as one of Orange County Transportation Authority’s core principles, the agency recently transitioned from leased to owned space for its headquarters saving taxpayers $50 million. Working closely with advisors such as CBRE, Griffin Structures and others, the purchase of the sustainable building, which features LEED Gold Certification and solar panels, is expected to lower operational costs as well.

Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA): Partnership in Motion: Tomato Springs Toll Plaza Reuse

To repurpose unused tollbooths after moving from cash to electronic tolling collection, Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) partnered with the Irvine Police Department and other local police departments to use the Tomato Springs North Toll Plaza for training motorcycle officers. The partnerships, offered at no cost by TCA, is a way to prepare first responders while also giving back to the community.

Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA): The Toll Roads Customer Service Back-Office System Upgrade

Faced with an outdated customer service system, Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) Toll Operations was in need of a major upgrade in order to continue serving the roughly 240,000 daily drivers of The Toll Roads. Collaborating with other agencies to share best practices in customer service support, the major upgrade was completed in October of 2023.

Public – Private Partnership

Nominees

CalOptima Health: CalOptima Health Provider Workforce Development Initiative

CalOptima Health distributed $25 million in workforce education grants to seven institutions in Orange County to help address shortages in Orange County’s healthcare workforce. The initiative provides economic assistance for education, training, recruitment and retention for future health care workers. Grant recipients include Cal State Fullerton, Chapman University, Coast Community College District, Concordia University Irvine, Orange County United Way, Rancho Santiago Community College District and UCI.

City of Los Alamitos: Pine strEATs Event Grant Program

The Pine strEATs event in the City of Los Alamitos is a partnership between the city and its local restaurants. Participating restaurants and vendors receive up to $5,000 grants to showcase their culinary offerings and cover event-related expenses. Proceeds benefit the Los Alamitos Community Foundation to support community-focused initiatives benefiting local residents and organizations, and participating businesses report a boost in sales during the annual event.

City of Santa Ana: Foster Youth Voucher Initiative Collaboration: Santa Ana Housing Authority, Orange County United Way, and Orangewood Foundation

In 2019, the Santa Ana Housing Authority partnered with Orange County United Way to provide housing for nearly 100 former foster youth, age 18-24, who had exited the foster care system. Through the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program, youth receive housing vouchers and additional support comes from Orangewood Foundation and the Orange County Social Services Agency.

County of Orange Procurement Office: The SoCal Procurement Alliance

Founded and led by the County of Orange Procurement Office, the Southern California Alliance is a group of local governments in Southern California collaborating to reduce costs through bulk purchasing and to enhance operational efficiency. The Alliance has improved access for smaller agencies and boosted business for suppliers with $14 million in new sales since 2023.

Jamboree Housing Corporation: Estrella Springs

Jamboree Housing partnered with public agencies such as the County of Orange, the city of Santa Ana and CalOptima Health to transform an underused Budget Inn in Santa Ana into Estrella Springs. The 89-apartment development offers housing for individuals and veterans experiencing homelessness, those living with mental health diagnoses, and individuals earning up to 30% of the area median income (AMI). Units provide kitchens with modern appliances, while residents also have access to a computer lab, fitness stations and community garden.

Related California: The Crossroads at Washington

In 2019, the City of Santa Ana and the County of Orange selected developer Related California to build an 86-unit affordable housing development. The Crossroads at Washington, which provides housing for low-income families and special needs populations, offers onsite services for residents, as well. Today, it is 95% leased with more than 200 residents living in the development, working in Orange County, attending local schools and supporting the local economy.

Leadership In Public Service

Nominees

City of San Juan Capistrano

The City of San Juan Capistrano worked with ALMQUIST Development to plan and approve its joint vision of River Street Marketplace, an economic revitalization project that establishes San Juan Capistrano as South Orange County’s premier dining and entertainment destination. Designed to impact the city’s economic development, the 60,000 square foot family-friendly dining and shopping hub, located in the oldest neighborhood in California dating back to 1775—Los Rios Historic District—brings in 32 new businesses and approximately 440 new jobs, and features farm-inspired architecture that pays homage to the history of the site and surrounding community.

Debbie Hansen-Bosse, The Flora May Foundation, Working Women Winning (WWW)

Debbie Hansen-Bosse is the founder of The Flora May Foundation and Working Women Winning. As the founder of Working Women Winning, she has created pathways to employment for underemployed and underserved women. Through partnerships with local businesses and corporations, she’s helped to build internships and job opportunities. In addition to this role, she mentors fellow non-profit CEOs in the region providing guidance to help make those nonprofits strong.
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Visit OCBC’s Photo Gallery to view photos of last year’s OCBC Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Awards.

Thank you again to all of our 2025 Nominees!

Past Nominees

Program Award: Business Retention and Expansion

Nominees

City of Garden Grove: Jobs 1st Program

The Jobs 1st Program was launched in April 2020 to support Garden Grove businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic. Initially focused on the Job Retention Grant, the program now focuses on the Job Creation Loan providing zero-interest loans to Garden Grove businesses.

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.

City of Los Alamitos: Los Al Bucks Program I & II

The City of Los Alamitos launched the “Los Al Bucks” program, designed to promote local shopping and community connectivity. The program distributed $50 worth of “Los Al Bucks” to each residence designated for use at participating businesses.

City of Newport Beach: Balboa Village Parking Management Overlay District

The Balboa Village Parking Management Overlay District helps to manage parking without constructing new parking spaces. The plan eliminates in-lieu parking fees and off-street parking requirements for new commercial development, reducing parking study and construction costs for local businesses.

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.

OC Community Resources – OC Community Services – Workforce and Economic Development Division: The Orange County Microbusiness Grant

In 2022, the County of Orange Workforce and Economic Development Division (WEDD) developed an online application portal and leveraged its County and community partners to promote a microbusiness grant opportunity, resulting in 1,470 grants totaling nearly $4 million awarded to OC microbusinesses.

Program Award: Building & Land Reuse And Community Revitalization

Nominees

City of Fullerton – Community & Economic Development Department: Rodeo Fox Project

The Rodeo Fox project, a collaborative between Almquist and the City of Fullerton, demonstrates a successful adaptive re-use by transforming a restaurant and two underutilized parking lots near the historic Fox Theater into a vibrant outdoor food hall with restaurants, retail stores, and a microbrewery.

City of Newport Beach: Newport Beach ADU

The Newport Beach Community Development Department (CDD) launched an initiative to spur Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) development in April 2023. A web page centralizes resources, offering a one-stop site for residents and homeowners to learn about the ADU process, finance and grant opportunities.

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.

Program Award: Incorporating Innovative Technology

Nominees

City of Costa Mesa: WaitWhile: Providing “CostAmazing” Customer Service

To expedite wait times in anticipation of Costa Mesa City Hall’s reopening in mid-2021, the city’s IT Department implemented WaitWhile, an online booking software that allows residents, businesses, and other visitors to book appointments with City departments in advance and monitor wait times.

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.

Office of Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen: Reducing Costs and Increasing Efficiency: The County of Orange Clerk-Recorder Passport Program

Following the rising demand for passports after COVID-19 restrictions eased, in May 2021 the Office of Orange County Clerk-Recorder launched a program to make receiving a passport more convenient and affordable for residents. The program also generated substantial County revenue.

Program Award: Sustainable And Green Development

Nominees

City of Irvine: Gateway Preserve

The Gateway Preserve, a plan made possible when the City of Irvine finalizes acquisition of the closed All American Asphalt plant in 2023, is set to create a 700-acre open space preserve providing habitat mitigation and recreation opportunities while eliminating long-time environmental concerns.

Municipal Water District of Orange County, Wyland Foundation, City of Westminster, and Saddleback College: Coronet Watersmart Conservation Garden

The Coronet Watersmart Conservation Garden project in Westminster provides residents a living example of sustainable landscaping strategies that reduce pollution runoff and showcase native plants that require less water and draw native pollinators to support biodiversity.

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).

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA): I-405 Improvement Project

To accommodate future growth, the 16-mile I-405 improvement project will add lanes in each direction between Costa Mesa and the border with Los Angeles County, combine existing carpool lanes, ultimately reducing traffic congestion, encouraging carpooling, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Public – Private Partnership

Nominees

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.

Brookfield Residential: The Landing at Tustin Legacy

The partnership between the City of Tustin and Brookfield Residential was integral to the continued success of Tustin Legacy, the city’s 1,600-acre master-planned community. The city team was instrumental in the builder’s design and entitlement strategy for The Landing ensuring the homes and amenities aligned with the city’s vision.

CalOptima Health: CalAIM Workforce Development Program

As part of their CalAIM initiative, CalOptima Health partnered with Chrysalis, a workforce development non-profit, providing a $2.9 million grant to enroll members into a job-readiness program for placement and employment at CalOptima Health’s service delivery sites.

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

Nominees

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.

CalOptima Health Chief Executive Officer Michael Hunn

Michael Hunn’s life has been dedicated to public service, beginning as a Catholic priest and transitioning to a career in health care administration. As the CEO of CalOptima Health, overseeing a $4 billion annual budget, he has led initiatives to improve health care in Orange County through vital partnerships and innovation for the county’s most vulnerable residents.

Chairman Don Wagner, Orange County Board of Supervisors (3rd District)

In response to the fentanyl crisis, Chairman Don Wagner secured approval from the OC Board of Supervisors to allocate $120,000 from Third District discretionary funds to provide $20,000 to school districts in the Third District to procure essential Narcan resources.

City of Orange

To expedite the restoration of gas services to more than 700 residents at the La Veta Monterey condominiums after the need for repairs unexpectedly arose, the City of Orange and SoCalGas worked closely by hosting weekly meetings, ensuring that safety and permitting requirements were met during the construction process.

Working Women Winning (WWW)

Conceived by founder and CEO of the Flora May Foundation, Debbie Hansen, Working Women Winning (WWW) is an 8-week workforce development program designed to empower women by fostering the essential skills, confidence, and resources required to excel in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Thank you again to all of our past nominees!

For more information

Lauren Martin, Director of Events
Orange County Business Council
[email protected]