The local nonprofit Orange County Living Wage announced on Monday it is set to end its operations after nine years.

A release shared by the organization’s leadership said the volunteer-driven group — which has highlighted Orange County businesses that pay a living wage and supported the workforce seeking such jobs — will close up shop on Tuesday, Dec. 31. The change comes, according to the announcement, as Orange County Living Wage has been unable to secure the necessary funding amid more grants being devoted to direct services for nonprofits and workforce advocacy groups.

“We are incredibly proud of the work we have done in partnership with key stakeholders in the community,” said Director Debbie Everly. “The dedication of our certified living wage employers, donors, advocates, and volunteers has been inspiring, and it is their commitment that has made our mission a reality. While we are saddened by this closure, we are grateful for the lasting change we have created as a community.”

Working with the goal of improving economic fairness, respect for laborers, the local economy, Orange County Living Wage would create a model to calculate the annual living wage for community each year. Local employers would then submit information to qualify for certification based on their wages paid to employees and would be featured by OCLW for two years before being up for recertification. As it closes, the organization will have certified 385 total employers since 2015 and featured 261 employers on its current living wage roster — with 70 percent of the remaining businesses being among the original certification cohort.

While the nonprofit’s model raised awareness of the issues of working and living in Orange County, it also claims several tangible results from its efforts. During its nine years of operations, it has increased its hourly living wage suggestion from $12.75 to $17.65 and employers have reported raising wages by a combined $3.5 million to reach the threshold for OCLW certification.

As Orange County Living Wage in its current form comes to an end, Monday’s alert said its leadership is “exploring ways to build on that lasting change,” including partnering with a broader coalition dedicated to workers’ rights initiatives and improving outcomes for the county and state’s workforce.

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