On Tuesday Dec. 17, the Costa Mesa City Council approved an agreement with EF Education First, an international language education company that offers language learning, travel, and cultural exchange programs, to occupy and improve the former home of Trinity Broadcast Network.
The proposed project, recognized globally for its unique English language immersion program, could serve up to 1,374 students from all over the world and add 70 education jobs to Costa Mesa.
The agreement brings in $1.8 million to the City over a 15-year period for infrastructure improvements in the vicinity of the project. EF Education First will also provide a Competitive language immersion Scholarship Program for up to five high school students annually who live in Costa Mesa for the next 10 years.
“Costa Mesa is already a world class destination for the arts and shopping,” Mayor Katrina Foley said. “Now we will earn a place on the world stage as an international destination for learning. Our new community partners already demonstrated their civic-minded intentions by engaging our residents to gather support for their project and by investing in our local students and our active transportation infrastructure. This project helps boost our local economy with millions in annual revenue from tourism, shopping, dining, and new property taxes. I’m excited for them to join our Costa Mesa community.”
EF Education First will renovate the existing three-story building into a campus with 50 classrooms, a student services area, cafeteria, and faculty/staff offices, new dormitories and outdoor recreational facilities including a pool with a pool house; and landscaping. It will generate less traffic as it is a development that will focus on active transportation.
Prior to voting for the agreement, Mayor Pro-Tem John Stephens spoke passionately about his experiences as a foreign exchange student. He noted that the agreement potentially results in $500,000 in additional revenue to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, increased construction jobs, $80 million pumped into the local economy and $3 million to host families in Costa Mesa
EF Education First is an international education company founded in 1965. For the past 50 years, EF has provided people of all ages with learning opportunities around the world, from educational travel to language training, academic degree programs and cultural exchange.
“EF Education First is excited to develop a world-class international education campus in Costa Mesa and bring thousands of students from around the globe to experience this beautiful city while learning English,” said Shawna Marino, the vice president of EF Education First. “We look forward to putting down roots in the City of the Arts and showing the world all that Costa Mesa has to offer. We believe that 15 months of extensive community outreach improved our design and operations, and we appreciate the Planning Commission and City Council approving this project.”
Marino also said the organization was fortunate to work with excellent City planners and City leadership, including Development Services Director Barry Curtis, on this project.