Orange County

Region Overview

Home to over 3 million residents, Orange County is one of the most densely populated counties in California.Comprised of 34 incorporated cities – including Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana – the ‘OC’ has one of the most diverse and powerful economies in the U.S. Orange County’s largest employment sectors are construction, tourism, and health services, and is a leader in sectors such as dental laboratories, computer storage device manufacturing, surgical and medical instrument manufacturing, and biomass electric power generation. Moving forward together, Orange County plans to drive towards a resilient, equitable, and sustainable economy that delivers for all communities in their region.

Orange County is the birthplace of . . .

Innovation

Modular Affordable Housing

Orange County Sustainability Decathlon

UCI Medical Center

Innovation

Modular Affordable Housing

Orange County’s first affordable housing project is being built in Midway City to provide a mix of both supportive and affordable housing. Built in partnership with the County of Orange, American Family Housing, and CalOptima – this housing project has taken an innovative approach of using pre-fabricated modular units to cut construction and time costs.

Orange County Sustainability Decathlon

Students, business, and innovators will gather for a brand-new sustainability decathlon at the Orange County fairgrounds in 2023. 18 teams of collegiate and postsecondary researchers, architects, builders and innovators from all over the world will gather to assemble and display models of sustainable housing models that they are currently designing. This competition fair will showcase innovation in construction and sustainability.

UCI Medical Center

UC-Irvine Health has broken ground on a brand new medical campus that will provide a space for cutting-edge research and advancements in healthcare. Building on its proximity to existing university assets, the complex will include a hospital, emergency department, Center for Advanced Care, Center for Children’s Health, urgent care, primary care, and other specialties. The center will provide care to OC while also providing construction and staffing jobs.

Inspiration

Orange County Regional Consortium (OCRC)

Economic Adjustment Assistance Program

STARBASE 2.0 Los Alamitos

Inspiration

Orange County Regional Consortium (OCRC)

OCRC consists of nine community colleges and one continuing education center across four community college districts, and serves as a regional framework for coordinating, collaborating, and planning career and technical education, and workforce and economic development initiatives in the Orange County Region. The OCRC invites the collaboration of business, non-profits, labor, government agencies and industry leaders to improve the decision-making of its educational institutions to reflect changing market trends.

Economic Adjustment Assistance Program

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $3 million grant to the city of Anaheim to support and diversify the regional economy through new entrepreneurial innovation and workforce development programs. Using matching local and private funds, the center will serve as a business incubator and provide vocational support to underserved communities seeking opportunity in the food sector.

STARBASE 2.0 Los Alamitos

A Department of Defense supported program, STARBASE 2.0 is an advanced rocketry program for grades 6-12. Students are challenged to design and build a rocket(s) from scratch and compete in the nationwide Team America Rocket Challenge. Students work in small teams to solve complex problems in physics, engineering, and technology.

Orange County is a microcosm of all great things about California – multi-culturalism, beaches, sunny weather, and an educated workforce that drives a powerful economy. Our collaborative will build economic equity and enhance affordability for middle and low-income residents.

Orange County Business Council

Region By Numbers

Explore these numbers and additional key Orange County demographic, economic, and business data on the Community & Place-Based Data Tool. Uncover other data tools, regional plans, and resources on the Data & Knowledge Library Page.

KNOWLEDGE & DATA LIBRARY

COMMUNITY & PLACE-BASED DATA TOOL

Population

3,190,144

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Total Households

1,066,460

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Total Establishments

166,243

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Educational Attainment

Associate Degree	8%
Bachelor’s Degree	26%
Graduate Degree	15%

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Labor Force

1,613,807

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Regional Contacts

Explore other federal, state, and regional contacts on our community connection page.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Regional Economic Recovery Coordinator, Orange County

Christy Tran

About CPBS

HRTC Contacts

The Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) will support an inclusive High Road Training Collaborative (HRTC) in this region, in charge of creating economic development recovery and transition strategies. To be a part of this region’s processes to advance economic prosperity and equity, contact the HRTC conveners.

Orange County Business Council

HRTC Convener Website

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California Community & Place-Based Solutions
1325 J St., Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: 877-345-4633
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Produced in Partnership with the U.S. Economic Development Administration