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OCBC, AT&T Expand Student Access to Technology | |
OCBC provided 30 laptops to students in Garden Grove Unified School District April 29, following the distribution of 30 laptops to students in Santa Ana last month.
In partnership with AT&T, OCBC is helping bridge the digital divide by providing approximately 60 laptops to low-income students across Orange County through a $20,000 community investment.
The effort supports OCBC’s Leading Educational Attainment (LEA) for Families Initiative, which provides multilingual resources through its “10 Education Essentials” program to help families navigate the K–12 system and prepare students for college and career pathways.
By pairing technology access with family-centered academic support, the initiative aims to address both immediate digital needs and long-term educational outcomes.
Photo courtesy of OCBC
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OCBC Engages Global Investment Leaders at Select LA Summit | |
OCBC Vice President of Business Initiatives Jesse Ben-Ron and International Business Attraction Advisor Jim Mayfield attended the Select LA Investment Summit, an event focused on showcasing Los Angeles and Southern California as leading destinations for international investment, trade and cultural exchange. The summit covered key topics including supply chains, financing, soft landing strategies and site selection.
A highlight of the event was the release of the annual Foreign Direct Investment in California report. Compared to last year, the number of foreign-owned enterprises increased by 87, from 2,121 to 2,208, with those companies paying $11.75 billion in wages, an increase of $171 million.
This level of economic activity underscores the importance of OCBC’s International Business Attraction Committee, which works to recruit and support global companies looking to invest in Orange County.
Pictured (left to right): Mayfield and Ben-Ron.
For questions, please contact OCBC’s International Business Attraction Advisor Jim Mayfield.
Photo courtesy of OCBC
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| 2026 Orange County Community Indicators Report | |
Committee Meetings
OCBC Committee Meetings are an exclusive benefit for OCBC investors. Meetings are hybrid unless otherwise noted. Registration is required.
International Business Attraction
May 15 | 10-11 a.m.
Economic Development
May 5 | 8-10 a.m.
Workforce
May 13 | 9-10:30 a.m.
Housing
May 12 | 8-9 a.m.
Infrastructure
May 5 | 8-10 a.m.
Government Affairs
June 12 | 9-10:30 a.m.
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Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee Advances Corporate Tax Expansion | |
AB 1790 (Connolly), which OCBC strongly opposes, passed out of the Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee this week and was placed on the suspense file. The bill would expand California’s corporate tax structure by increasing the inclusion of global intangible low-taxed income and modifying water’s-edge election rules (a tax provision that allows multinational corporations to limit their California tax reporting to U.S.-based income, rather than including all worldwide earnings).
OCBC lobbyist Moira Topp submitted a “me too” opposition on behalf of the organization, and OCBC appreciates Assemblymember Kate Sanchez (R–Rancho Santa Margarita) for her “no” vote and continued engagement on business concerns.
During the hearing, Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) requested clarification on issues including double taxation, audit instability, record-keeping complexity and potential retaliation risks, while also referencing input from stakeholders such as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
OCBC is advocating against this due to concerns about tax complexity, compliance burdens and increased economic uncertainty for California businesses and will continue engaging as the measure moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
For questions, please contact OCBC’s Vice President of Government Affairs Amanda Walsh.
Photo courtesy of the California State Assembly
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OCBC Aligns Employers to Strengthen Workforce, Regional Competitiveness | |
OCBC convened Human Resources professionals from its board member organizations to advance employer-driven solutions that align workforce needs with regional infrastructure and policy. Orange County’s competitiveness depends on attracting and retaining talent amid rising housing costs, workforce shortages, regulatory complexity and rapid technological change.
Bringing together leaders from some of the region’s largest employers strengthens cross-sector collaboration, supports leadership pipeline development, enhances partnerships with local education programs and helps companies navigate cost pressures while building shared resources.
For questions, please contact OCBC’s Vice President of Business Initiatives Jesse Ben-Ron.
Photo courtesy of OCBC
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City of Irvine's "Breaking Barriers: Streamlining Businesses in Irvine" | |
OCBC attended the City of Irvine's “Breaking Barriers: Streamlining Businesses in Irvine,” where the clear takeaway was the City’s commitment to reducing friction for businesses ready to grow.
A key highlight was the Irvine Navigator Program, a concierge-style service that helps high-impact companies in sectors such as advanced technologies, healthcare innovation, climate and next-generation defense navigate planning, permitting and operations.
Rather than leaving companies to navigate City processes on their own, the program provides a single point of contact to guide projects from concept to completion. Paired with coordinated cross-department reviews and complimentary pre-planning meetings, it represents a meaningful step toward making Irvine easier to do business in.
For companies with complex projects and ambitious timelines, the Navigator Program offers the kind of partnership that can move projects forward rather than stall them. OCBC continues to support municipal actions that promote economic growth.
Pictured (left to right): City of Irvine Director of Economic Development Karin Koch and OCBC Business Initiatives Vice President Jesse Ben-Ron.
Photo courtesy of OCBC
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What Should the Future of Immigration Look like in the United States? | |
On May 5, UCI’s School of Social Ecology, in partnership with OCBC and other regional organizations, is hosting “Dialogue During a Time of Disruption: Immigration in Transition,” a timely and thought-provoking conversation on May 5.
The event will feature two leading voices in immigration policy:
Jim Robb, Vice President of Alliances at NumbersUSA and Diego Sanchez, Vice President of Policy & Strategy at the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.
Moderated by Dean Jon B. Gould, the discussion will present differing perspectives on immigration policy, with a focus on workforce needs, immigration levels, and future policy direction.
The conversation will also explore the real-world implications of immigration policy on communities and the regional economy. With efforts like the Dignity Act advancing in Congress and the need for a stable workforce across the economy, OCBC continues to prioritize immigration reform as a foundational federal policy issue.
Secure a seat today.
Image courtesy of UC Irvine
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Take OCBC's Workforce Needs Survey for the Hospitality, Tourism, Manufacturing Industry | |
OCBC, in partnership with the Orange County Workforce Development Board, is inviting employers in the hospitality, tourism and manufacturing industries to participate in its Workforce Needs Survey.
The survey is designed to gather direct input from businesses on current hiring challenges, skills gaps and workforce retention needs. Feedback collected will help inform regional workforce development strategies, funding priorities and employer support services.
By participating, employers will contribute to data that will guide targeted training programs and help strengthen the regional talent pipeline to better meet industry demand.
OCBC encourages businesses to complete the survey and ensure their perspectives are reflected in future workforce planning efforts across Orange County.
Click here to take the survey.
Image courtesy of Orange County Workforce Development Board
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