Sip, Explore, & Earn Rewards with Bobapalooza

Sip, Explore, and Earn Rewards with Bobapalooza

Your next boba run could come with a few extra perks! Presented by the City of Irvine, in partnership with the Asian Business Association of Orange County, Bobapalooza is a shop-local campaign featuring 11 participating boba shops across Irvine.

From August 17 through October 17, grab your free Bobapalooza Passport at any participating location, spend at least $5, collect stamps, and earn prizes — including a chance to win a complimentary hotel stay at Marriott Irvine Spectrum.

Visit one, visit a few, or sip your way through all 11!

Support Irvine Public Library Card Sign-Up Month

Irvine Public Library is looking for local businesses to participate in its Library Card Sign-Up Month campaign! From September 1–30, participating businesses will offer a special perk, discount, or incentive to customers who show their Irvine Public Library card during the campaign. This is a simple way to promote your business, connect with the Irvine community, and help celebrate the many benefits of being an Irvine Public Library cardholder.

Interested in participating? Contact Lauren Regenhardt at lregenhardt@cityofirvine.org by September 8 to learn more and join the campaign.

We are Seeking an Accelerator Operator. Help Us Get the Word Out!

The City is seeking an experienced operator to launch and manage the accelerator program and day-to-day operations of the new Irvine Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The selected operator will recruit high-potential startups, deliver accelerator programming, connect companies with capital and industry resources, and build a dynamic pipeline of companies positioned to launch, grow, and scale in Irvine.

A mandatory virtual pre-proposal meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, September 3, at noon. Attendance is required to submit a proposal. Proposals are due Thursday, September 17, by 4 p.m.

Professional Baseball is Coming to the Great Park

Professional baseball is officially coming to Irvine! A new Pioneer Baseball League team, an MLB Partner League, will make the Great Park its home starting summer 2027. Inspired by the high-energy fan cultures of professional baseball in Japan and South Korea, the experience will feature interactive crowd traditions, lively entertainment, and a culinary mix of Asian street foods and ballpark favorites. With 48 home games annually, the new franchise is expected to generate more than $1.2 million in annual economic activity while bringing a distinctive new sports and entertainment experience to Irvine.

Irvine Navigator Program Gains Momentum

Since officially launching in January, the Irvine Navigator Program has grown to support 36 active business projects in priority industries, ranging from 400 to 105,000 square feet and representing 795 jobs. The program provides dedicated project support, coordinated City reviews, and early planning guidance to help qualifying businesses navigate the development process more efficiently.

Planning a new facility, expansion, or major project in Irvine, or know a business that is? Connect with the Office of Economic Development early to learn more about the program and how we can help.

First Look at Irvine’s Future Innovation Center

More than 200 elected officials, business leaders, entrepreneurs, community partners, and City staff recently gathered for a first look at the future Irvine Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Expected to open in Q2 2027, the approximately 25,000-square-foot Center will bring entrepreneurs, startups, investors, and resource partners together under one roof, creating a centralized destination for connection, collaboration, and business support.

Expanded Child Care Tax Credits for Employers

New federal legislation expands tax incentives for employers that invest in child care benefits for their employees. To be eligible for the credit, an employer must have paid or incurred qualified child care expenditures or qualified child care resource and referral expenditures during the tax year to provide child care services to employees. The credit cannot exceed $150,000 per tax year. To learn more, contact Orange County Business Council (OCBC) Vice President of Business Initiatives Jesse Ben-Ron at jbenron@ocbc.org.

Save on Energy Costs with SCE’s Economic Development Rate

Southern California Edison’s Economic Development Rate offers qualifying businesses a 12% discount on electricity bills for five years. The incentive can help reduce operating costs for businesses considering locating, expanding, or remaining within SCE’s service territory rather than moving operations outside California. Contact Troy Nguyen at Troy.Nguyen@sce.com to learn if your business qualifies.