association of california cities

What association of california cities does

The Association of California Cities – Orange County (ACC-OC) is a nonprofit membership association representing the 34 cities of Orange County, California on regional public policy issues. Headquartered in Mission Viejo and led by Executive Director Kris Murray, the organization delivers unified advocacy at the state (Sacramento) and federal (Washington DC) levels, structured around six standing policy committees covering Energy/Environment/Water, Transportation/Infrastructure, Housing/Homelessness, Healthcare/Veterans/Community Services, Economic Development/Tourism, and Legislative/Regulatory matters. ACC-OC's product surface centers on the BOLD (Better Opportunity for Learning and Development) educational program, the annual Golden Hub of Innovation Awards (which drew 200+ leaders and 60+ nominations in 2025), the Policy Pulse blog, The City Square podcast, and signature events including the Leadership Summit, Summer Reception, and recurring advocacy trips.

The organization does not develop proprietary technology; its digital footprint consists of a Wix-hosted website, member portal, email newsletter, and standard social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Its technology positioning is therefore functional rather than competitive, with member engagement driven by in-person and live-event programming rather than software.

ACC-OC's business model is a hybrid membership-and-event revenue structure. Primary recurring revenue comes from annual membership dues paid by Orange County city governments, supplemented by tiered event registration fees (e.g., $2,250 member / $2,750 non-member for the Washington DC Advocacy Trip), sponsorship revenue from corporate affiliate members and event sponsors, and ancillary fees for add-ons such as guest meals. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: cities are onboarded through direct engagement by association staff and board members, with retention supported by committee participation, advocacy access, and ongoing educational programming. The customer base spans three segments — Orange County municipal governments (primary), city officials and elected leaders (persona), and corporate/agency affiliate members (utilities, transportation agencies, water districts, service providers).

Name

association of california cities

Legal name

Association of California Cities - Orange County

Website

https://accoc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association of California Cities – Orange County (ACC-OC) is a nonprofit membership association representing the 34 cities of Orange County, California on regional public policy through advocacy, educational programming (BOLD), and signature events like the Golden Hub of Innovation Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mission Viejo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ACC-OC operates as a membership organization for Orange County cities. Cities pay membership dues to be part of the association and gain access to advocacy services, educational programming, and networking opportunities.
2. Event Registration Fees: The organization generates revenue through event registration fees for programs like the Washington DC Advocacy Trip (Member Registration: $2,250, Non-Member Registration: $2,750), and other educational events and tours.
3. Sponsorship Revenue: The Golden Hub of Innovation Awards and other events feature sponsorship opportunities for organizations looking to connect with Orange County city leaders and officials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACC-OC is a nonprofit membership association representing the interests of Orange County cities on regional public policy issues. It delivers advocacy services, educational programming through the BOLD (Better Opportunity for Learning and Development) program, and convening opportunities via six policy committees covering housing, transportation, energy/environment/water, legislative/regulatory affairs, healthcare, and economic development.

Product overview

ACC-OC is a professional membership association representing Orange County cities on regional public policy issues. It provides educational programming, advocacy services, and networking opportunities through its committee structure and programs. The organization's offerings include the BOLD (Better Opportunity for Learning and Development) Program for professional development, the annual Golden Hub of Innovation Awards recognizing regional innovation, the Policy Pulse blog for policy updates, advocacy trips to Sacramento and Washington DC, and six standing policy committees covering energy/environment, transportation, housing, economic development, healthcare, and legislative/regulatory matters. Members also benefit from the Regional Energy Pathways Program Ambassador role connecting cities with SoCalGas energy efficiency resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BOLD Program (Better Opportunity for Learning and Development)
• Golden Hub of Innovation Awards
• Washington DC Advocacy Trip
• Annual Leadership Summit
• City Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully advocates for Orange County priorities at state and federal levels through organized advocacy trips
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SoCalGas (Regional Energy Pathways Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC serves as the Regional Energy Pathways Program Ambassador for Orange County, connecting cities and public sector organizations with energy-saving opportunities. This partnership helps member cities improve energy efficiency and reduce costs through programs including the Large Public Sector Program and Public Direct Install Program.
• United to End HomelessnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC partners with United to End Homelessness for BOLD Programs focused on understanding the role of housing authorities in solving homelessness. This collaboration is part of the ACC-OC Housing and Homelessness Committee, chaired by Mayor Gene Johns.
• Southern California Edison (SCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC collaborates with Southern California Edison on educational programs including tours of the Grid Technology Development labs, wildfire mitigation initiatives, and grid modernization discussions. SCE provides sustainability reports and participates in BOLD programs.
• Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee partners with TCA for executive briefings and educational programs on regional transportation infrastructure, toll roads, and mobility solutions.
• Cityside FiberminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCityside Fiber is an ACC-OC Affiliate Member. ACC-OC staff attended the company's grand opening celebration as they expand their high-speed fiber network throughout Orange County.
• CalOptima HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalOptima Health partners with ACC-OC on healthcare initiatives including Medi-Cal coverage programs, PACE centers, and street medicine. Dr. Kelly Bruno-Nelson serves on the Orange County Commission to Address Homelessness.
• Charter CommunicationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC partnered with Charter Communications for Broadband 101 educational briefings as part of the BOLD Program, providing comprehensive overviews of Charter's investment in Orange County communities.
• Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC collaborates with OCTA on transportation initiatives including the OC Wave Fare Payment System, Bike Month celebrations, and regional mobility planning. OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson participates in ACC-OC events.
• Republic ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC partnered with Republic Services to host the grand opening of their Anaheim Material Recovery Facility, a cutting-edge facility processing up to 100 tons of recyclable materials per hour.
• Sustain SoCalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC partners with Sustain SoCal on sustainability events and educational programming including Water Solutions conferences and Urban Agriculture initiatives.
• University of California, Irvine (UCI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC partnered with UCI to host a Wildfire & Emergency Communications Webinar featuring UCI researchers Dr. Amir AghaKouchak and Dr. Jun Wu as part of the BOLD Program.
• Santa Margarita Water DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC collaborates with Santa Margarita Water District on water education initiatives including the Water Festival and water quality reporting programs.
• Jamboree HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC partners with Jamboree Housing on the Homes for Heroes BOLD Program providing veteran housing orientation and tours at Heroes Landing in Santa Ana.
• Orange County Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC works with OCWD on water policy education including webinars on the Santa Ana River and participation in water infrastructure discussions.
• Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC participated in MWDOC's Water Policy Forum & Dinner focusing on the Sites Reservoir Project, with ACC-OC Executive Director Kris Murray leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
• SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACC-OC board members and staff participate in SCAG's Regional Conference & General Assembly, engaging in discussions on resilience, housing affordability, mega-events, and the AI economy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Orange County Business Council: Regional business membership organization serving Orange County with policy advocacy, events, and committee programming. Comparable regional scope and member-driven model, but serves private-sector rather than municipal members.
• Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce: Local chamber providing policy advocacy, networking events, and educational programs in Orange County. Operates a similar membership-funded, event-driven engagement model in a narrower geography than ACC-OC.

Broad incumbents

• California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber): Statewide business association delivering policy advocacy, legislative alerts, and educational events to California employers. Comparable association structure and committee-based policy work, but serving businesses rather than cities.
• California State Association of Counties (CSAC): Statewide association representing California's 58 counties with analogous advocacy, legislative, and educational programming. A sibling municipal-government peer sharing structure and revenue model with ACC-OC.
• League of California Cities: Statewide municipal association representing all 482 California cities; offers the same advocacy, education, and policy committee structure as ACC-OC but at state scope, making it the closest functional analog and the primary broader-market incumbent ACC-OC sits beneath.
• National League of Cities: National membership organization for U.S. cities, towns, and villages providing federal advocacy and municipal education. Operates the same city-membership and policy-committee model as ACC-OC at national scale.

Emerging players

• Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA): Professional association for state and local government finance officials, offering training, certification, and best-practice resources. Comparable in delivering educational programming to municipal officials, with overlapping budget and fiscal policy remit.
• American Planning Association – California Chapters: State-level chapters of APA serving planning officials with policy advocacy, conferences, and education. Overlaps with ACC-OC's housing, land use, and transportation committee agendas and shares an event-driven member-engagement model.
• Urban Land Institute (ULI) Orange County District Council: Regional council of ULI serving Orange County real estate and land-use professionals through programming and policy engagement. Comparable event-based membership engagement on housing and infrastructure issues central to ACC-OC's mission.

Direct peers

• Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG): Regional planning and policy body serving six Southern California counties including Orange County. ACC-OC documents participation in SCAG's General Assembly and policy work, indicating overlapping regional advocacy scope and member engagement model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/accoc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@acc-orangecounty
• Facebookfacebook.com/AssociationofCaliforniaCitiesOC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/accoc
• Instagraminstagram.com/acc_orangecounty

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about association of california cities