Greater Sacramento Economic Council

Greater Sacramento Economic Council
Name	Greater Sacramento Economic Council
Formation	1987
Type	Nonprofit economic development organization
Headquarters	Sacramento, California
Region served	Sacramento metropolitan area
Leader title	President & CEO

Greater Sacramento Economic Council is a public-private economic development organization founded to promote investment and job creation in the Sacramento metropolitan area, including Sacramento County, Yolo County, Placer County and El Dorado County. The council engages corporate recruitment, site selection, and regional marketing while interfacing with municipal agencies such as the City of Sacramento, state entities including the State of California executive and legislative branches, and federal programs administered by agencies like the U.S. Department of Commerce. The organization operates within a competitive landscape alongside groups such as the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and regional partners like Sacramento Kings stakeholders and the University of California, Davis.

History

The council was established in 1987 amid local restructuring that followed statewide policy shifts from the California Governor's office and planning decisions influenced by major public works projects such as the Central Valley Project and flood control efforts tied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Early decades saw engagement with entities like West Sacramento redevelopment initiatives, negotiation with utilities including Pacific Gas and Electric Company and SMUD, and coordination on transportation corridors intersecting with Interstate 5 and Interstate 80. Landmark local developments involved coordination with parties behind projects such as the Sacramento International Airport expansion and the redevelopment of Old Sacramento State Historic Park. The council’s timeline includes campaigns that paralleled shifts in state policy during the administrations of Governor George Deukmejian, Governor Pete Wilson, Governor Jerry Brown, and Governor Gavin Newsom.

Mission and Governance

The council’s stated mission aligns with regional recruitment strategies employed by organizations like the Bay Area Council, and it maintains governance structures common to nonprofits modeled on boards such as those of the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Administration advisory bodies. Leadership has included executives who previously served at institutions including the Sacramento Regional Transit District, the Greater Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, and corporate partners such as Intel Corporation and Wells Fargo. Board composition regularly features representatives from municipal governments like the City of Folsom, higher education institutions such as California State University, Sacramento, and corporate stakeholders including Amazon (company), Blue Diamond Growers, and Sutter Health.

Economic Development Initiatives

Initiatives mirror tactics used by peer organizations like JPMorgan Chase-backed workforce programs, leveraging incentives akin to those overseen by the California Competes Tax Credit and infrastructure funds connected to the Federal Transit Administration. Major programs have targeted site selection assistance for firms in sectors represented by Tesla, Inc., Microsoft, and Apple Inc., workforce training partnerships with Sacramento City Unified School District and Los Rios Community College District, and brownfield remediation coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency. The council has advocated for transportation investments aligned with projects like the Altamont Corridor Express and regional freight improvements tied to the Port of Oakland and Union Pacific Railroad corridors.

Key Industries and Investments

The council emphasizes sectors including advanced manufacturing exemplified by General Electric, clean technology companies reminiscent of SunPower Corporation, information technology represented by firms similar to Google and Cisco Systems, and healthcare clusters including Kaiser Permanente and UC Davis Health. Agriculture and food processing stakeholders include Dole Food Company analogs and local cooperatives such as Sierra Nevada Brewing Company-style manufacturers. Investments have targeted industrial parks near nodes like McClellan Air Force Base redevelopment and logistics hubs serving links to Sacramento International Airport and the Port of Stockton.

Regional Partnerships and Collaborations

Partnerships encompass academic collaborations with University of California, Davis, California State University, Sacramento, and University of the Pacific; municipal alliances with City of Roseville, City of Elk Grove, and City of Rancho Cordova; and coordination with statewide institutions such as the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank. The council also works with national organizations like the National Association of Counties, U.S. Economic Development Administration, and private sector conveners such as CBRE Group and JLL.

Organizational Structure and Funding

Governance includes a board of directors with members drawn from corporations like Chevron Corporation, financial institutions such as Bank of America, academic leaders from University of California campuses, and local elected officials from counties including Sacramento County, California. Funding streams combine dues and sponsorships from entities similar to Wells Fargo and PG&E Corporation, grant awards from the Economic Development Administration, and fee-for-service revenue from site selection work performed for firms like Amazon (company-style investors and logistics providers including FedEx and UPS.

Impact and Performance Metrics

Performance metrics mirror frameworks used by the International Economic Development Council and include job commitments reported in press releases alongside capital investment figures comparable to announcements by Intel Corporation and Tesla, Inc.. Outcomes are tracked against county-level labor statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and fiscal impact analyses akin to studies by the RAND Corporation and McKinsey & Company. Reported wins have included corporate relocations, expansions with employment outcomes comparable to those reported by Amazon (company), and public-private projects similar to transit-oriented development undertaken with partners such as Sacramento Regional Transit District.

Category:Organizations based in Sacramento, California