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City outlines five-year economic development goals, seeks to expand tourism and small-business supports
Summary
City staff presented a high-level draft five-year economic development strategy that emphasizes tourism, real-estate investment, business retention, entrepreneurship and improved permitting; staff will return in June with KPIs and an annual action plan tied to the budget cycle.
City economic development staff presented a high-level draft of a five-year economic development strategic plan to the City Council, proposing goals to expand tourism and cultural destinations, attract real-estate investment in targeted sectors, and strengthen business retention and entrepreneurship programs.
Assistant City Manager and Economic Development Director Ursula Luna Reynosa summarized accomplishments under the prior 2021 strategy and presented a proposed vision: "Garden Grove will be recognized as a vibrant and diverse economic hub where businesses prosper, workers flourish, visitors relax, and residents thrive," she said. The draft mission emphasizes cultivating prosperity by enriching the environment to stimulate economic vitality.
Planned goals for 2025'2030 include: (1) business development to drive employment and investment via retention visits, free data tools (SizeUp Garden Grove) and small-business loan programs; (2) targeted real-estate investment for tourism, manufacturing, healthcare and housing; (3) tourism and cultural development, including exploring an arts-and-cultural corridor and collaboration on a Little Saigon district; and (4) communications and marketing, with a proposed marketing strategy due by January 1, 2026.
Ursula Luna Reynosa highlighted recent work: accreditation by the International Economic Development Council, relaunched food and restaurant promotion efforts, a micro-business loan pilot and the SizeUp Garden Grove data portal for businesses. She noted the city's strategic location in the destination market near Anaheim and long-term opportunities tied to regional events and investments.
Council members praised staff and asked for more detail at the upcoming budget retreat and in the June follow-up. Mayor Pro Tem Dovin said the strategic plan requires deeper discussion and asked staff to bring the plan to the annual budget retreat so department heads can align resources and KPIs with the plan.
Staff said a more detailed strategic plan with KPIs and an annual action plan will be returned in June so the council can align budget decisions with strategic priorities.
Ending: The council did not act on the draft plan and requested staff to return with performance measures and a detailed action plan aligned to the fiscal year cycle for further review during budget planning.
