OCBC joined business, education and civic leaders at Vanguard University on November 13 for the rollout of the 2026 Orange County Community Indicators Report, developed with partners CalOptima Health, First 5 Orange County, Orange County Community Foundation and Orange County United Way.

The report provides essential data on trends shaping Orange County’s $348B regional economy, workforce, housing and quality of life to guide future investment and collaboration.

The 2026 report is sponsored by Experian (title) and Cathay Bank, Kaiser Permanente, and Southwest Airlines (platinum).

Click here to read the full report.

To learn more about upcoming OCBC Business Connections events like this, contact OCBC Business Initiatives Facilitator, Jorgie Sandoval.

Image courtesy of CJF

There’s still time to celebrate the people and partnerships driving business growth in Orange County. The nomination deadline for OCBC’s 15th Annual Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Award nominations has been extended to Wednesday, December 3!

We invite you to recognize the bold solutions and collaborations making a real difference for business in Orange County.

Winners will be announced at OCBC’s 2026 Annual Dinner and Installation of the Board of Directors on February 26, 2026, at the Disneyland Hotel.

View last year’s nominees and honorees.

Image courtesy of OCBC

OCBC joined Senator Tom Umberg to celebrate Round 2 of the California Jobs First awards, which directed nearly $1 million toward advancing workforce development and economic opportunity in Orange County.

Funded projects include EV training with Goodwill of Orange County, healthcare and culinary workforce programs through Rancho Santiago Community College District and childcare provider training from Hope Community Services, each strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline and advancing inclusive economic growth.

Since 2023, OCBC has served as the Regional Convener for Jobs First, uniting business, labor, Tribal, government, education and community partners to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Photo courtesy of OCBC

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Governing Board voted 9-1 to approve a cooperative agreement with the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, advancing cleaner air while supporting the region’s goods-movement infrastructure. The agreement establishes a coordinated path for emissions-reduction planning and annual reporting, balancing environmental progress with economic stability.


OCBC Vice President of Government Affairs Amanda Walsh participated in the meeting, emphasizing the importance of solutions that maintain the competitiveness of Southern California’s port complex.

For more information on OCBC policy priorities, please contact OCBC Vice President of Government Affairs, Amanda Walsh.

The Orange County Business Council (OCBC) joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in urging Congress to preserve the USMCA, which supports more than 13 million American jobs and ensures nearly all U.S. exports to Canada and Mexico enter tariff‑free. OCBC emphasizes that the agreement sustains regional businesses, jobs, and North American competitiveness.

Next steps: The USMCA will enter a 2026 joint review process to determine whether to extend the agreement and implement any updates.

For more information on OCBC policy priorities, please contact OCBC Vice President of Government Affairs, Amanda Walsh.

Orange County Business Council (OCBC) remains strongly opposed to any form of rent control and is closely monitoring local proposals that limit rental increases.

The Los Angeles City Council recently adopted a 4 percent cap avoiding the most extreme version of the proposal OCBC continues to oppose these changes because they still constrain investment reduce long-term housing supply and deepen the region’s affordability challenges.

The Council will continue advocating for market-based, supply-focused policies that expand housing opportunities and improve affordability across the region.

For more information on OCBC policy priorities, please contact OCBC Vice President of Government Affairs, Amanda Walsh.

Organizations across Orange County can now take advantage of new federal energy tax incentives through elective pay, a non-taxpayer-funded opportunity to modernize infrastructure, lower energy costs and reduce long-term maintenance burdens.

Schools, non-profits, tribes and other non-taxpaying entities may qualify under Section 48 of the Federal Energy Investment Tax Credit, which outlines eligible clean energy projects and credit values. Projects in low-income communities may also qualify for additional incentives.

Learn more and review federal guidance.

Photo courtesy of OCBC