County of Orange Workforce Reentry Center Project

The County of Orange is developing a Workforce Reentry Center on a 4.6-acre site located at 561 The City Drive South in Orange, California. This project is designed to provide transitional housing and vocational training for adults transitioning from the criminal justice system or other County systems of care. The development will consist of three primary structures: a 37,200 square foot office and vocational building, a 16,166 square foot retail and culinary building, and a 26,998 square foot supportive housing and services building. The scope of work also includes the installation of utility infrastructure, landscaping, hardscaping, surface parking, and a new internal circulation roadway, with excavation reaching depths of up to 16 feet. Additionally, the project involves off-site improvements to The City Drive South and West Metropolitan Drive, including median modifications, restriping, and traffic signal upgrades. The project was approved by the Board of Supervisors on August 12, 2025, following the adoption of an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act, which concluded that no significant environmental impacts would occur provided mitigation measures are implemented. Currently classified as a forecast with a posting date of August 13, 2025, the project is managed by OC Public Works and OC Development Services. While the project has received environmental clearance and board approval, specific contractual details such as the total contract value, performance schedules, and formal solicitation numbers have not yet been established. Primary coordination is handled by Planning Manager Cindy Salazar.