STRATEGIC PLANNING
City of Glendale
Economic Development Strategic Plan
EA is leading the update of the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan to create a thriving, diverse economic and cultural hub. Building on their previous work, EA is developing a detailed economic profile of Glendale, analyzing socioeconomic indicators, industry clusters, commercial market trends, and the broader economic landscape. EA has conducted interviews and focus groups with key City staff and external stakeholders representing business, real estate, workforce development, and community sectors. EA will synthesize these quantitative and qualitative findings into a cohesive Strategic Plan featuring goals, objectives, and actionable implementation strategies tailored to Glendale's unique economic context and priorities.
Estolano Advisors worked with Inclusive Action for the City, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit and community development financial institution, to develop Inclusive Action’s first strategic plan. EA designed and led an iterative planning process that consisted of board and staff interviews followed by interactive leadership and staff retreats to develop sections of the plan. Between engagements, EA worked closely with Inclusive Action’s strategic planning committee to revise the organization’s mission, vision, and values and to develop an actionable set of goals and strategies that would support the organization with expanding its impact. The final three-year plan guides the organization’s work to create thriving, equitable local economies and achieve economic justice for low-income communities of color.
Inclusive Action for the City
Strategic Plan
Estolano Advisors led the strategic planning process for the Inland Empire Labor Council (IELC), a coalition of unions and worker centers in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The strategic plan identified priorities and goals for the IELC to pursue over the next five years. EA facilitated discussions with an advisory committee, comprised of key IELC labor affiliates to inform the process. EA led external one-on-one interviews, deployed an affiliate survey, and engaged internal staff to inform goals and corresponding strategies and actions for the organizations. EA also designed a half day affiliates retreat with 40 local union and worker center leaders. EA summarized the findings and feedback into an ambitious strategic plan that was approved by IELC’s Executive Board in late summer 2024.
Inland Empire Labor Council
Strategic Plan
Estolano Advisors worked with Jobs to Move America, a national nonprofit focused on harnessing public procurement dollars to create good quality jobs that benefit marginalized communities, to develop a five-year strategic plan. EA worked closely with JMA leadership throughout the process, conducted a series of interviews with staff, board members, and external partners and facilitated a retreat to refine the strategic plan components. EA crafted strategic plan language including a theory of change and vision, mission, and values statements, as well as a set of goals, strategies, and metrics that will help guide JMA’s work and decision-making.
Jobs to Move America
Five-Year Strategic Plan Development
Estolano Advisors (EA) and our affiliate firm, Better World Group (BWG), led the development of a five-year strategic plan for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Office of Environmental Justice and Climate Health (OEJCH). The Strategic Plan serves as a blueprint for the Office as they work towards advancing safe, healthy, and just environments for all Los Angeles County residents in alignment with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ commitment to improve environmental conditions and related health outcomes. To develop the Strategic Plan, Estolano Advisors and Better World Group convened staff workgroups, coordinated public workshops in each Los Angeles County Supervisorial District, and interviewed internal and external constituents and partners. EA and BWG worked with the Office to draft the Plan's Goals, Strategies, and Actions. An Evaluation Plan and Communications Plan accompanied the final Strategic Plan.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Office of Environmental Justice and Climate Health
Five-Year Strategic Plan
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor engaged Estolano Advisors to develop a vision for the County Fed’s headquarters located in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. The County Fed envisioned redeveloping its property into a mixed-use urban campus that will: (1) generate a source of revenue that will promote the financial stability of the organization; (2) serve as a visual and physical demonstration of the County Fed’s organizing strength, deep labor/community partnerships and formidable political power; and (3) provide a model for how to manage union real estate assets for the broader benefit of workers and the surrounding community. EA assisted the County fed in conceptualizing a development program, including a market study, and visualizations of the preferred project option. EA also designed and led three visioning session with the County Fed staff and advisors.
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
Strategic Plan
Estolano Advisors prepared a Sustainability Strategic Plan for the Union Station Master Plan (USMP) for Metro. EA was tasked with developing a near-to-long term sustainability-focused funding plan to advance the implementation of the USMP. EA also worked with Global Green and Studio MLA to develop three innovative and sustainability-driven demonstration projects that would transform the area around Union Station into a sustainable transit district. The funding strategy and demonstration projects were presented in the final strategic plan and packaged as ‘grant-ready’ with summaries that describe sustainability benefits for Metro to use in grant applications.
LA Metro
Union Station Master Plan Sustainability Strategic Plan