Policy Pulse: December 19, 2025
- ACC-OC
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Wishing our members, partners, and communities across Orange County a joyful holiday season. Thank you for your collaboration, leadership, and commitment throughout the year. We look forward to continuing to work together in the year ahead!
Thank you to everyone who joined us at this year’s Orange County Regional Holiday Mixer! We were thrilled to celebrate the season with partners, local leaders, and community members from across the region.
Relive the evening!
Photos from the night are now available—[view the full photo gallery here].
A special thank-you to our Co-Hosts:
League of California Cities OC Division
Orange County Business Council (OCBC)
OC Taxpayers Association
And a big thank-you to our generous Sponsors:
West Coast Arborists
Jacob Green & Associates
Cityside Fiber
Woodruff & Smart
Kosmont Companies
Jamboree Housing
Orange County Association of Realtors (OCAR)
We sincerely appreciate your partnership and support in making this event such a success. We look forward to continuing our work together in 2025!
Thank you to everyone who joined our November countywide briefing on Orange County’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the LA 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games. As shared during the meeting, the Orange County Sports Commission is gathering information from cities interested in participating in LA28-related opportunities — including hospitality houses, training camps, community activations, watch parties, and more.
Next Step for Cities:
Cities interested in being considered for LA28 opportunities are encouraged to complete the City Participation Form: Click Here
Participants can outline their goals, available assets, and any additional information that will help the Orange County Sports Commission evaluate partnership opportunities. The LA28 guide is also available for reference.
For questions, please contact:
Anthony Brenneman
Executive Director, Orange County Sports Commission
We appreciate the strong engagement and look forward to continued collaboration as Orange County prepares to welcome the world in the years ahead.
2026 ACC-OC Board of Directors Installation & Networking Reception
Save the Date
Join ACC-OC as we celebrate the installation of the 2026 ACC-OC Board of Directors. This special evening will honor outgoing ACC-OC Board President, Hon. Jamey Federico, Dana Point, for his leadership and service, and welcome our incoming ACC-OC Board President, Hon. Tanya Doby, Los Alamitos.
Homes for Heroes: Veteran Housing Orientation and Tour with Jamboree Housing
Join ACC-OC’s BOLD Program for an exclusive orientation and guided tour of Heroes Landing, Jamboree’s award-winning supportive housing community for formerly homeless veterans and their families.
SAVE THE DATE!
ACC-OC is proud to serve as the SoCalGas Regional Energy Pathways Program Ambassador for Orange County, connecting cities and public sector organizations with energy-saving opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Through SoCalGas initiatives such as the Regional Energy Pathways (REP) Program and the Statewide Water Infrastructure and System Efficiency (WISE™) Program, eligible agencies can benefit from expert guidance, project support, and valuable financial incentives.
Program Highlights
Regional Energy Pathways (REP) Program
No-cost energy assessments to identify savings opportunities
Financial support for energy-efficient upgrades
Project management assistance and on-bill financing
Whole-facility energy audits and no-cost measures such as insulation, low-flow fixtures, and kitchen equipment improvements
Statewide WISE™ Program
Rebates for energy-efficient water and wastewater system improvements
Eligible measures include high-efficiency pump upgrades, VFD installations, boiler replacements, and insulation improvements
Available to water and wastewater pumping customers within PG&E, SCE, SoCalGas, and SDG&E territories
To learn more about how your city or organization can benefit, contact Marlene Barraza (mbarraza@accoc.org) to schedule a meeting or ask questions!
Large Public Sector Program | Public Direct Install Program |
Statewide WISE Program
City of Laguna Niguel
Join the City of Laguna Niguel this winter for our Ugly Sweater Skate Contest on Saturday, December 20th, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Show up in your best ugly sweater, and you will have a chance to win a prize! Skaters will have the opportunity to compete with their best tricks on various obstacles within the park. Participants and guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy cookie decorating and hot chocolate.
City of Mission Viejo
A calmer opportunity for children with special needs to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Please bring you own camera. Registration is required, and space is limited. To reserve a spot, click below.
City of Garden Grove
The King Shocks Toy Drive and Off-Road Show is rolling into Garden Grove for 2025! This holiday favorite unites the off-road community for a full day of rugged rides and seasonal giving, showcasing some of the toughest machines SoCal has to offer.
Right in the heart of Orange County, the city of Garden Grove becomes the backdrop for this off-road exhibition. Expect a massive lineup of lifted trucks, trophy trucks, Jeeps, desert racers, side-by-sides, and custom rigs, all parked side by side for enthusiasts and families to explore. With King Shocks’ headquarters as the venue, the show blends horsepower and holiday cheer in one of the most well-known automotive hubs in Southern California.
King Shocks, a leader in high-performance suspension, is behind the event and keeps it packed with energy year after year. Alongside the toy drive supporting local families, attendees can look forward to food vendors, live music, raffle prizes, and a holiday-themed atmosphere that sets it apart from a standard car show.
Orange County Sanitation District
OC San General Manager Rob Thompson was recently featured in Filtration & Separation magazine. The article, “Breaking Forever Bonds,” highlights several emerging methods for destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including OC San’s innovative Supercritical Water Oxidation project.
In partnership with 374Water, this project will address PFAS contamination in biosolids by using water at high temperature and pressure to oxidize complex compound materials into basic and benign compounds. Read the full article below!
City of Irvine
Join the City of Irvine at the Great Park Saturday, December 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a Holiday Gardening Fair at the Farm + Food Lab – SFUA (link is external), located at 8000 Great Park Blvd. This family-friendly event invites gardeners of all ages and experience levels to explore seasonal plants, discover unique gourds, and learn helpful gardening tips in a welcoming, nature-filled environment.
CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County
Join CLAOC for the inaugural launch of the AI for Water Management Professionals course, created in partnership with Moulton Niguel Water District, the California Data Collaborative, the Orange County Business Council, and UCI Division of Continuing Education. This course was made possible by a California Jobs First grant.
Hosted on Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 from 6–8 PM at Moulton Niguel Water District, this event introduces a first-of-its-kind progra
m designed to equip the next generation of water professionals with practical, responsible AI skills.
Be among the first to see how this program can empower your teams, support organizational goals, and shape the future of water management.
Celebrate this regional partnership and explore how AI upskilling can benefit your agency and the broader community.
Housing and Homeless Incentive Program (HHIP) Round 5 Notice of Funding Opportunity
CalAIM
The CalOptima Health's Housing and Homeless Incentive Program (HHIP) Round 5 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be released on Monday, November 11, 2025. This funding opportunity supports the development or enhancement of permanent, affordable housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in Orange County.
The materials and application portal link will be available on the CalAIM webpage. All applications must be submitted by Friday, December 19, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. PST.
Providers interested in responding are encouraged to attend CalOptima Health's virtual bidder’s conference to receive an overview of the funding opportunity.
Virtual Bidder's Conference Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 1:00 p.m. PST
Proposal Submission Deadline: Friday, December 19, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. PST
Please Contact CalOptima Grants Management with any questions at:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
FY 2026 Brownfield Grant Opportunities
OCCOG’s Project Management Partner, Montrose Environmental, is available to support local agencies with potential grant opportunities as part of the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 EPA Brownfield Grants. The menu of available grants can be found at https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/marc-grant-application-resources. This will be the last grant competition with 400% more funding via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and no matching funds are required.
Eligible brownfield projects could include properties with older structures (e.g., built before the 1980s), which may contain regulated building materials (e.g. – lead-based paints, asbestos and PCBs) and properties with soil, groundwater and/or surface waters impacted with petroleum and/or hazardous substances (e.g. – former auto repair/gas stations, illicit dump sites, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities). Eligible applicants include cities, land clearance authorities, redevelopment agencies, regional councils, special districts, tribes, and non-profit organizations.
Brownfield grant types include:
Community-Wide Assessment: Up to $2M for Tribal applicants; used to complete a wide range of activities, including Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), cleanup/restoration/reuse plans. Funding can be used to support these activities on numerous sites over a 4–5-year grant implementation period. Funding is not limited to properties you already own and can be used to support land acquisition opportunities.
Cleanup: Up to $4M; used to complete remediation and restoration of one or more brownfield-impacted properties that you own.
Multi-Purpose: Up to $1M; used to complete a combination of assessment, cleanup, and reuse planning activities on one or more brownfield-impacted properties.
Guidelines are due to be issued shortly, with grant applications anticipated for November. Award announcements are scheduled to be made in May 2026, with implementation beginning in October 2026.
Please contact Chris Gdak at Montrose Environmental at cgdak@montrose-env.com or (425) 760-1342 for more details.
Department of Housing and Community Development
Permanent Local Housing Allocation/ 2023 PLHA NOFA
This program provides long-term funding to support affordable housing, homeless prevention programs, and other housing-related projects. Funds are allocated based on California jurisdictions’ housing needs.
Application Deadline: June 30, 2027
Samueli Foundation
LFI and Leadership Accelerator Program
The Leading for Impact (LFI) and Leadership Accelerator program, run by the renowned Bridgespan Group, provides scholarship-supported access to strategic coaching, leadership development and peer-learning opportunities for 100 nonprofit executive teams. Through a mix of classroom workshops, team-led projects and executive coaching, LFI equips leaders with the skills and tools to strengthen their organizations, drive long-term sustainability and increase their community impact. Participating organizations contribute a portion of the program cost, ensuring shared investment in their growth and success.
Application Deadline: December 31, 2025
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