January, 2026 - Irvine Community News and Views

Irvine City Council Approves Economic Development Blueprint

The Irvine City Council has unanimously approved the City’s 2026-2028 Economic Development Blueprint.

The Blueprint prioritizes business retention and expansion; growth of Irvine’s venture capital and innovation ecosystem; workforce and talent-pipeline development; and enhancement of Irvine’s national and global competitiveness.

The Blueprint also lays the groundwork for the City to partner with the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce to establish an Irvine Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The new Center will serve as Irvine’s hub for startups and innovators by connecting entrepreneurs with investors, providing resources for early-stage companies, and making it easier to start and grow a business in Irvine.

Irvine is the Fourth Greenest City in America

Thanks to its abundance of parks, bikeways, open spaces and trees, Irvine is now ranked the fourth Greenest City in America and the greenest city in Southern California according to the finance website WalletHub.

Each year, WalletHub compares the nation’s 100 largest cities to compile its “Greenest Cities” list, using 28 key indicators — ranging from greenhouse gas emissions per capita to water quality and green jobs.

The City’s high percentage of green space and its environmental leadership has been part of Irvine’s foundation since its earliest planning. The City’s Master Plan called for parks, open space, walking trails, and bike paths to be woven throughout neighborhoods.

An impressive 28% of Irvine’s land is dedicated to parks and green spaces, which is nearly double the national average. And 96% of Irvine residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park.

Orange County’s First Cancer Specialty Hospital Opens in Irvine

On December 1st, Orange County’s first cancer specialty hospital opened in Irvine. The 174,000-square-foot City of Hope medical facility is located at 16300 Sand Canyon Parkway.

More than 100 physician-scientists have been brought in to focus solely on treating and curing cancer. The 73-bed hospital provides access to a number of cancer-focused clinical trials, including early-stage clinical trials that require close supervision in a hospital setting.

The first floor includes an eight-bed evaluation and treatment center — essentially an urgent care that will be open around-the-clock, 365 days a year, for patients who have any issue related to their cancer.

The new hospital is part of a 72-acre academic research campus that connects the hospital to an adjacent outpatient center, which opened last year, at City of Hope’s $1 billion Irvine campus being developed at Barranca and Alton.

Irvine’s New Public Library System

Last August, the City of Irvine celebrated the official opening of its new City-run public library system, with more than 1,200 residents in attendance.

Under the previous library system, Irvine taxpayers were contributing roughly $17 million annually to the Orange County Public Libraries (OCPL). However, the libraries operated by OCPL in Irvine were receiving only $5 million annually in services, with Irvine residents being underserved by the City’s three small libraries.

The transition has allowed the City to begin expanding and modernizing existing branches; plan for new branches in town; tailor library services to better meet the needs of the City’s residents; and expand programming, collections, and services.

Irvine Opens Official Passport Office

Are you planning an international trip? If so, you can now apply for your passport right here in Irvine!

Over the past several months, the City of Irvine has been working in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Passport Agency to establish an official passport acceptance facility at City Hall (1 Civic Center Plaza).

As part of this new program, residents can apply for a passport book or a passport card without leaving Irvine. The City is also offering on-site passport photos so that residents can complete a full passport application or simply have a passport photo taken.

Appointments are currently available on Mondays & Wednesdays between 9am and 3pm. (Expanded hours will be announced in early 2026.)

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Month: January 2026

Irvine City Council Approves Economic Development Blueprint

Irvine is the Fourth Greenest City in America

Irvine’s New Public Library System

Irvine Opens Official Passport Office

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