Little Saigon Improvement District

Overview 

The Little Saigon Improvement District is a coordinated initiative among Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, and Santa Ana to explore and establish a multi‑jurisdictional Business & Community Benefit District (BCBD). The project aims to support economic revitalization, cultural preservation, and long‑term management of the region’s Vietnamese‑American business corridors. Through feasibility analysis, community engagement, district planning, and legal formation steps, the three cities are working together to create a sustainable district model that reflects community priorities and strengthens regional collaboration.

Goals

The project seeks to understand the needs and priorities of property owners, businesses, and cultural stakeholders across the Little Saigon region. Its goals include developing a unified district structure, establishing assessment methodologies, and preparing long‑term management and funding plans aligned with State law. The initiative also aims to build a cohesive three‑city organization that supports economic growth, cultural tourism, and improved public spaces while elevating Vietnamese‑American voices in district planning.

ArrowGTP’s Strategic Approach

The project team conducted extensive feasibility‑phase outreach across all three cities, including more than 200 community surveys, 125 mailed owner surveys, plaza canvassing, and nine focus groups. This work informed the development of verified district boundaries, service program concepts, and assessment formulas. The Management District Plan and Engineer’s Report were prepared and refined to meet legal requirements for district formation. With these documents approved, the petition drive was launched, followed by coordinated efforts with each city on petition verification, public hearing preparation, and Proposition 218 ballot steps. Early groundwork also began for the future owners’ association, including identifying potential members for an interim board and advocates committee.

Key Contribution

The project team led multilingual outreach and engagement across Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, and Santa Ana to ensure broad participation from property owners, businesses, and community leaders. This included developing surveys, canvassing strategies, stakeholder databases, and bilingual materials to support informed decision‑making. The team coordinated closely with all three cities to align messaging, timelines, and legal requirements, while facilitating focus groups, plaza outreach, and community engagement to ensure diverse representation in district planning.

Results

The feasibility‑phase outreach was successfully completed across all three cities, generating more than 200 community surveys, 125 owner surveys, plaza canvassing data, and insights from nine focus groups. Verified district boundaries, assessment methodologies, and the Management District Plan and Engineer’s Report were finalized and approved for petition launch. The petition drive was initiated, with ongoing coordination among Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, and Santa Ana on verification, public hearing preparation, and Proposition 218 ballot steps. Early planning began for the future owners’ association and interim board, laying the foundation for long‑term district governance and implementation.