Countywide : New Program Will Aid Job Creation

Orange County cities may soon get federal help creating jobs for residents under a program recently approved by the Department of Commerce.

The Overall Economic Development Program, compiled by a special county task force formed to stimulate job growth in the county, will allow cities to apply for more than $160 million in federal job-creation money.

The committee, appointed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, submitted 11 projects for consideration. Most include road improvements.

“With respect to the different road proposals, it is expected that many of those construction jobs would come from the different communities they are created in,” said Alvin Davidson, project coordinator.

In Irvine, city officials requested $3 million for six projects including widening Jamboree Road and Barranca Parkway. Santa Ana officials submitted a $1-million request to improve Bristol Street, while Tustin asked for $750,000 for Newport Avenue work.

Anaheim requested $25,000 to start a Telework Center, which would provide county residents the opportunity to work from a multiple-tenant work site in downtown Anaheim in order to avoid long commutes.

Although the requests have been submitted, it doesn’t guarantee funding, Davidson said. It does get the projects to federal officials, who will eventually divide up the money.

Since June, the 10-member development program committee has been meeting to come up with ways to stimulate jobs throughout the county.

Some of the issues the group dealt with include defense conversion; racial, ethnic and minority matters, and government regulations. The committee will update the plan every year in order to remain eligible for the funding.

“The efforts of the OEDP are vital to ensuring a stable economy in Orange County,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Harriett M. Wieder said in a prepared statement about the plan. “Over the next year, the committee will coordinate with various other federal, regional and local public and private sector organizations . . . to encourage job growth and economic development in the county.”