In February 2006, the Orange County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) retained the services of AngelouEconomics and the Mike Barnes Group to lead the county in the formation of a strategic economic development action plan. The County is located near the Texas and Louisiana border approximately 100 miles from Houston and only 35 miles from Lake Charles. At the time of the plan, Orange County was still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Rita and sought a plan that would position the County for continued growth and development along the I-10 Corridor.

The strategic planning process began with an assessment of the local economy prior to and since the Hurricane hit, identifying the true impact of the Hurricane on the local business community. Economic data was contrasted against AE’s own SWOT analysis to identify current strengths and future opportunities. As a result, AE provided a list of target industries for the County and specific product improvements that must be implemented in order to get the economy back on track.

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