Stay connected with the latest business news, resources, and opportunities in Santa Ana! The City of Santa Ana’s Economic Development Newsletter highlights new business openings, local development projects, upcoming events, business assistance programs, and other initiatives supporting our city’s growing business community.
Whether you’re starting a business, expanding your operations, or exploring opportunities in Santa Ana, our Economic Development team is here to help! From site selection assistance and business resources to navigating City permits and connecting with workforce development programs, our team is committed to helping businesses succeed.
Connect with Economic Development:
Please Note: This newsletter was originally published in July 2026. Some events, registration opportunities, and program information may no longer be current. For the latest updates, upcoming events, and available business resources, please visit the City of Santa Ana’s Economic Development website.
In the News
Nick the Greek Expands to Santa Ana
Nick the Greek, the fast-growing Mediterranean restaurant known for its authentic Greek street food, has opened its newest location at 1313 W. 17th St. in Santa Ana. The restaurant marks the brand’s seventh Orange County location and reflects its continued national growth following the milestone of 100 restaurants. Offering favorites such as gyros, souvlaki, bowls, salads, and traditional Greek desserts, the new eatery further enhances Santa Ana’s diverse dining scene while providing residents and visitors with another exciting culinary destination.
Click here to read the article
Business Spotlights
Mi Casa Oaxaca
Mi Casa Oaxaca is a vibrant culinary destination located at MainPlace Mall. Founded and operated by siblings and business partners Romell Ramirez and Niria Ramirez, the restaurant occupies the spacious, welcoming venue of a former Olive Garden rather than the standard food court, offering a true sit-down dining experience. The restaurant specializes in authentic, deeply flavorful Oaxacan cuisine, capturing the rich culinary traditions of southern Mexico and serving as an extension of their original sister location, Casa Oaxaca.
What Makes It Special?
Deeply Authentic Flavors: The kitchen honors ancestral recipes, crafting rich, complex moles, perfectly spiced green pozole, and massive, crispy tlayudas topped with traditional meats, black bean spread, and stringy Oaxacan cheese.
- The Saturday Buffet: Every Saturday, the restaurant opens up a dedicated weekly buffet service. It is a massive hit for families and food enthusiasts looking to explore a wide variety of southern Mexican regional dishes in a single visit.
- A Community Hub: Far more than just a place to eat, it serves as a lively community gathering space. From hosting vibrant soccer watch parties to celebrating seasonal cultural festivals, the energy is always welcoming and festive.
Whether you are stopping in for a quick, comforting lunch during a shopping trip or bringing the whole family together for a Saturday feast, it delivers a true, heartfelt slice of Oaxaca.
Legacy Business Spotlight
Yellow Basket Restaurant Celebrates Anniversary
Founded on July 20, 1981 by Angelo and Connie Boussiacos, Yellow Basket is a family-owned restaurant that has served generations of Santa Ana families for 45 yea
rs. Still owned and run by their family today, the restaurant at 2860 S. Main Street has been a neighborhood gathering place for breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, and good coffee for more than four decades.
As the neighborhood comes back to life and the surrounding area reopens, the family has rolled prices back to welcome longtime regulars and new neighbors alike, with everyday specials like a $9.99 All-Day Breakfast and a $5.99 charbroiled Classic Cheeseburger.
“We heard our community, and we’re proud to still be here 45 years later,” said owner Tom Boussiacos. “This celebration is our way of saying thank you to Santa Ana.”
Santa Ana Restaurant News
Lola Gaspa Earns Bib Gourmand
Congratulations to Lola Gaspar! The Downtown Santa Ana favorite has once again earned a coveted 2026 MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand distinction, marking its third consecutive year receiving the prestigious recognition. The Bib Gourmand designation celebrates restaurants that offer exceptional quality and value, further solidifying Lola Gaspar’s reputation as one of Southern California’s premier dining destinations.
Sponsorship Opportunities for Businesses
Connect with Thousands of Santa Ana Residents and Grow Your Brand
The City of Santa Ana invites businesses to sponsor citywide events that bring together thousands of residents and visitors from across Southern California.
Sponsorship opportunities provide valuable brand visibility through event participation, marketing recognition, and direct community engagement. Sponsors may support individual events or establish an annual plan that enhances community events while increasing their presence throughout Santa Ana.
Many businesses like yours choose to help enhance event experiences, fund activities and amenities , and create memorable opportunities for residents and visitors alike, while aligning their brand with Santa Ana’s high-profile community events.
We welcome you to participate!
Travel Santa Ana
Promote Your Santa Ana Event
Santa Ana businesses are encouraged to submit upcoming public events to the Travel Santa Ana Events Calendar.
From live music and cultural festivals to art exhibitions, theater performances, and special promotions, this free marketing opportunity increases your event’s visib
ility and connects you with visitors looking for things to do in Santa Ana.
Certain eligibility criteria apply.
Business Attraction Survey
Business Attraction
We are conducting a brief survey to better understand community preferences regarding the types of businesses people would like to see in the city. Please take a moment to complete this one-minute survey about preferred business types and daily activities. Your feedback will help guide decisions related to attracting new businesses, enhancing commercial corridors, and prioritizing future investments that reflect community needs and interests.
Advertise Your Business
Let’s Promote Your Business
Have a promotion, discount, or special offer coming up? Our Economic Development team is here to help you get the word out. Submit your Santa Ana business deals and we’ll help promote them through our marketing channels, connecting you with more customers and keeping your business top of mind in the community all year long. Interested businesses, please click on the button below to submit your deals.
Please note, this opportunity is for Santa Ana based businesses only.
New Businesses
Business Resources
Business Assistance Office
We are here to help our local business community. Whether you’re just starting a business, need help with a marketing plan, or have questions about growing you
r business, our experts are ready to provide guidance.
Stop by Santa Ana City Hall for Business Assistance Office Hours, Room 1301 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
This free service is your opportunity to get personalized advice and take the next step toward building your dream business.
Call the Economic Development Division at (714) 647-5477 for more information.
Small Business Grant Available
The City of Santa Ana remains committed to supporting the growth, stability, and long-term success of local businesses. The Small Business Incentive Program assists eligible new businesses by helping offset qualified start-up costs and providing technical assistance during their first three years of operation.
Funding is provided through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Program Criteria:
- Up to $5,000 in reimbursable business expenses (up to $2,500 for home-based businesses)
- Open to microbusinesses with five or fewer employees, including the owner
- Businesses must be located in Santa Ana and have been in operation for no more than three years as of the application date
- Income limits apply
To apply and review the complete list of eligibility requirements, please visit the grant webpage using the link below.
For questions or assistance with the application, please contact the City’s Economic Development Division at (714) 647-5477 or econdev@santa-ana.org.
Starting a Business in Santa Ana: Industry Specific Guides
Starting a business is an exciting journey, one that requires clarity, planning, and persistence. Every industry has its own opportunities, challenges, and requirements, and knowing these early can save valuable time, money, and effort.
To support Santa Ana entrepreneurs, we’ve created step-by-step roadmaps and checklists for six key industries: Restaurants, Retail, Office-Based Businesses, Home-Based Businesses, Manufacturing, and Transportation.
Each guide covers essentials like:
- Required permits and licenses
- Zoning and compliance
- Certifications
- Industry-specific regulations and considerations
Whether you’re launching your first business or expanding into a new field, these tools offer clear, actionable steps so you can focus on what matters most—building a sustainable and successful business.
The Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (OCIE SBDC) and SCORE are both great resources for business owners and those who are interested in starting a business. Please click on the links below to view upcoming in person and webinar free training programs on marketing and more.
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture Special Events Sponsorship Program (FY 2025 – 2026):
The Arts & Culture Special Events Sponsorship Program provides financial support for community-based arts and cultural events that deliver a measurable public benefit to residents, businesses, and visitors of the City of Santa Ana, including cultural enrichment, economic activity, and community engagement.
Highlights:
- 87 total applications
- 43 projects were funded
- 33 Santa Ana residents/organizations received funding
- 16 applications received funding from the City for the first time
- 5 projects were Neighborhood Associations
- Average funding per applicant was $3,761
Investing in the Artist Grant Program (FY 2025 – 2026):
The Investing in the Artist Grant Program supports emerging and established Santa Ana artists, as well as local arts organizations and cooperatives, with small but impactful grants that help advance their creative work. By investing in artists as vital contributors to the local economy, the program strengthens Santa Ana’s creative ecosystem and fosters a more vibrant, diverse, and culturally rich community.
This round’s theme “Stories That Unite US in Santa Ana” celebrates the city’s rich history, cultural traditions, and diverse voices through collaborative art and creative expression. The program aims to deepen belonging, resilience, and shared pride by transforming individual lived experiences into a collective community narrative. Artists and arts organizations across all mediums are invited to submit proposals that actively engage residents, local businesses, and neighborhood groups.
Highlights:
- 27 total applications
- 19 projects were funded
- 12 Santa Ana residents/organizations received funding
- 6 applications received funding from the City for the first time
- Average funding per applicant was $9,474
Santa Ana WORK Center
Resume Building Workshop
Join the Santa Ana WORK Center team for a resume building workshop every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 10AM to 11 AM!
📍801 W. Civic Center Dr. Suite 200, Santa Ana, CA 92701
For more info and to RSVP, call (714) 565-2600.
Interview Workshop
Join the Santa Ana WORK Center team for an interview workshop every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 11AM to 12PM!
📍801 W. Civic Center Dr. Suite 200, Santa Ana, CA 92701
For more info and to RSVP, call (714) 565-2600.
Available Space for Lease
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City Services
Download the mySantaAna App
The mySantaAna mobile app puts the power of the Santa Ana city government in the palm of your hand!
Business owners and residents with an iPhone or Android smartphone can download the mySantaAna application for free allowing them to quickly an d easily report issues with photos to the City for clean-up.
