The Sacramento region has a long history of collaborative projects to build economic prosperity and enhance quality of life.

Elizabeth Brinton, of presenting sponsor SMUD, opens the 14th Annual State of the Region Forum: The Next Big Thing. Photo by Riverview Media Photography

As part of the Metro Chamber's work to foster regional collaboration, it has instituted the Regional Leadership Excellence Awards to recognize key people for their courage and leadership.

Former El Dorado County Supervisor Rusty Dupray: Much of his work was often behind the scenes, making it happen when SACOG adopted the MTP 2035. As the chair of SACOG at the time, he was able to successfully overcome the mountains of issues relating to land use issues and to forge the consensus that allowed our region to bring the plan to a successful conclusion. 

Sacramento County Supervisor Susan Peters: She was a linchpin in negotiating regional priorities and consensus for flood protection but from an urban, business perspective. Susan’s leadership on the local flood assessment district was a true turning point in that effort. Her support helped pass the assessment district, which gave us a local funding source, which put our region at the front of the line for State Prop 1E and critical Federal appropriation dollars for increased flood protection. Susan was also instrumental in getting consensus on important “business” priorities built into the MTP 2035, which included a balance of transit funding, road maintenance funding, the inclusion of new river crossing/bridges and HOV line extensions.

Former Sutter County Supervisor Dan Silva: Dan is part of the regional leadership that recognized that we needed an economic development strategy for the non-urban areas in our six counties. His efforts can largely be given credit for getting RUCS to where it is today and we remain confident he will brilliantly lead it into the future. Dan also has been a major force in the area of flood protection. 

Mayor Christopher Cabaldon of West Sacramento: Those who were involved with Blueprint, Partnership for Prosperity and the MTP, in both 2004 and 2008, know that when he engages on a regional issue his personal involvement is a “game changer.” Partnership for Prosperity would not have succeeded without Christopher working with his elected official counterparts in the region to get “on board with the regional effort.” Christopher was also critical in closing the deal on Blueprint and chaired the roundtable that developed the Metropolitan Transpiration Plan 2035.

Lincoln City Councilman Tom Cosgrove of Placer County: Not only does he have to his credit being one of the regional leaders who helped launch the Rural Urban Connectors Strategy, he is widely credited with being the linchpin in forming consensus on the landmark land-use bill, SB 375. Tom also helped ensure that regional dialogs could happen between jurisdictions when he spearheaded the increase in representation on the SACOG Board of Directors to allow every local government a seat on the board of directors. Without this effort, much of the regional collaboration never would have happened.

Photo: From left, Rusty Dupray, Susan Peters, Dan Silva, Christopher Cabaldon and Tom Cosgrove. Photo by Riverview Media Photography.

Resources

Below is a list of resources that describe past and current efforts, projects and initiatives accomplished by business and civic leaders who have come together for the benefit of the businesses and citizens of the six counties. These projects illustrate the success that can happen with regional collaboration.

·         Videos

• Sacramento Region - Intellect Influence Innovation | Video 
         Produced by KVIE, this video briefly describes the attributes and assets of the region's 
         six counties and stakeholder initiatives.
  

•  New Valley – A Look At The Future Of The Region

New Valley is a KVIE produced series that focuses on the issues that are transforming the Central Valley into California ’s next frontier. This series explores the issues and consequences that California ’s second great migration to the Central Valley will have on regional resources. This trend represents the challenges and opportunities that we face as a state: how to ensure sensible development, where to house a booming population, how to keep pace with a diversifying economy, and how to protect the environment.

In this informative and relevant series, KVIE will address some of the most critical issues and challenges facing our region by presenting a number of 30-minute programs. Each program looks at the real life implications of growth and asks citizens, business leaders, and policy makers how we can maintain our quality of life

New Valley – A Look At The Future Of The Region

·         Blueprint – How you build it is our future.

The SACOG Board of Directors adopted the Preferred Blueprint Scenario in December 2004, a bold vision for growth that promotes compact, mixed-use development and more transit choices as an alternative to low density development.  It also serves as a framework to guide local government in growth and transportation planning through 2050. 

Blueprint Special Report.

Blueprint Website.

·         Flood Protection – From Sutter County to the Folsom Dam and everything in between

Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency:

The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) was formed in 1989 to address the Sacramento area’s vulnerability to catastrophic flooding.

SAFCA Website.

West Sacramento Flood Control Agency:

The West Sacramento Flood Control Agency (WSFCA) is currently partnering with the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) to evaluate its levees against revised federal guidelines issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

City of West Sacramento Flood Protection Priorities.

West Sacramento Levee Improvements – Map.

West Sacramento Flood Control Agency Website.

Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency:

The Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency plans, designs and coordinates regional flood control improvements to protect lives and property in the Yuba City Basin (also called the Sutter Basin ).  The Flood Control Agency is directed by a Board of elected leaders from the Counties of Butte and Sutter and the Cities of Yuba, Live Oak, Gridley and Biggs.

Graphic: How Levees Fail.

Sutter/Butte Flood Control Agency Website.

·         Partnership for Prosperity – Improving our regional economy

A uniquely broad group of 34 regional economic development stakeholders agreed with this approach and joined the Partnership – including business, labor, banks, utilities, universities, ethnic business and more. They worked for more a year to forge a cooperative regional business plan targeting El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.  By working together on a common vision, we have the best chance to influence market forces.

PFP Listen-Plan-Act Diagram.

PFP Business Plan for the Sacramento Region.

Partnership for Prosperity Website.  

·         Metro Pulse – Business Retention and Expansion efforts

Metro Pulse is the region’s coordinated, collaborative effort to actively develop and implement strategies that promote business success right here in our own backyard.

Metro Pulse Web Site:  www.metropulse.org

Metro Pulse Annual Report for FY 07/08

Business Walks

Deployed under Metro Pulse, Business Walks provide a critical opportunity to meet with a large number of businesses in a short time, typically 100 – 175 in three hours.

Metro Chamber Business Walk Web Page

Arden Arcade Business Walk Report (2008)

Power Inn Business Walk Report (2008)  

Rancho Cordova Business Walk Report (2008)

West Sacramento Business Walk Report (2008)

NEED link to report

·         Clean Energy Technology – Green Capitol Alliance

Sacramento Region’s Clean Tech Green Pages

The Clean Tech Green Pages is the premier resource directory for the 6-county region’s clean energy technology industry, generously funded by a grant from PG&E.

Metro Chamber Clean Energy Technology Web Page

Clean Tech Green Pages

Clean Energy:

The Sacramento region has long been a leader in and promoter of clean energy and green technology.  As a result of the unique partnership between the region’s municipalities, educational institutions and private sector, the Sacramento region is poised to transform federal clean energy investments into the next generation of green technologies, jobs, and companies that will shape a more sustainable future not only for our 22 cities and our 2.3 million residents but also for the entire nation. 

Clean Green Technology Accomplishments in the Sacramento Region.

SARTA – CleanStart

CleanStart is an incubator program empowering clean energy technology entrepreneurs with the knowledge, capital, and connections critical to a successful start-up venture.

SARTA’s MedStart initiative, a rapidly growing regional economic development collaborative, envisions a thriving medical device and medical information technology industry in the Sacramento region. Mesdstart Connect Mixer  Medstart Flyer 

Cleanstart Programs

·         Civic Amenities:    

PFP Civic Amenities.

Museums, Historical and Science Centers.
Theaters.

Capitol Mall.

ULI Website.

Experiences is created by the Partnership for Prosperity, an effort from the Sacramento Area Commerce & Trade Organization (SACTO), the Sacramento Metro Chamber and Valley Vision to build a 3-5 year collaborative economic development strategy for the six-county Sacramento region.  Experiences Website

·         Workforce Development & Education 

Career GPS

Provides one central location to find information about high demand jobs in the Sacramento Region, how much they pay, and where to get trained for them.

Career GPS Web Page

Sacramento Regional Workforce Forecast

The 2008-2009 Occupational Outlook Report for the Sacramento region ( El Dorado , Placer, Sacramento , Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba Counties ) is an annual publication that is produced by the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA) and Sacramento Works, Inc. in cooperation with the Golden Sierra Job Training Agency and the Yolo County Department of Employment & Social Services. Occupation Outlook Report  The 2008 Regional Workforce Forecast

·         Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2035

Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2035: 

The Metropolitan Transportation Plan is a 28-year plan for transportation improvements in our six-county region based on projections for growth in population, housing and jobs. The MTP is key to the quality of life and economic health of our region.

MTP2035 Overview Brochure.

MTP2035 Website. 

Goods Movement:

In conjunction the 2007 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) update, the Regional Goods Movement Study aims to help better integrate freight into our planning process and to ensure that goods will still be on the move throughout the Sacramento region in the years ahead.

Goods Movement, Phase 1, Executive Summary.

Goods Movement Website.

·         Regional SIP – air quality

  State Implementation Plan:

Federal clean air laws require areas with unhealthy levels of ozone, inhalable particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide to develop plans, known as State Implementation Plans (SIPs).  SIPs are comprehensive plans that describe how an area will attain national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). In March of 2009, the ARB approved the 2009 Sacramento Regional 8 Hour Ozone Attainment and Reasonable Further Progress Plan (Plan). 
Staff Report.

Sacramento Metro Region Air Quality Management Plans Website.

·        Rural Urban Connectors

The Rural-Urban Connections Strategy is a look at the region ' s growth and sustainability objectives from a rural perspective. In the same way that Blueprint is an economic development strategy for urban areas, this project will be an economic and environmental sustainability strategy for rural areas.  Issues areas contained in the RUCS study:

Land Use and Conservation

The Infrastructure of Agriculture

Economic Opportunities

Forest Management

Regulations

RUCS Website.

·         Other Regional Collaborative Efforts

Health Care and Biosciences Economic Impact Report

Our Health Care and Biosciences Industry Cluster has a $33.5 billion economic impact in our region, supports over 240,000 jobs, and provides 1/5 of the region’s payroll.

Health Care and Biosciences Economic Impact Report Preview

Nursing Regional Collaborative

Our region’s health care systems have partnered with Los Rios Community College District to expand capacity to necessary to meet our nursing workforce needs.

Sacramento City College Associate Degree in Nursing

American River College RN Associate Degree Program

SARTA – MedStart

MedStart is an incubator program developing the region as a thriving center for medical devices, diagnostics, and medical information technology, including telemedicine.

MedStart Programs

Regional Food Access Project

This project supports integration of a regional food policy, which prioritizes elimination of health disparities and ensures sustainable food access to low income communities.

Regional Food Access Project

UC Davis Innovation Access

Provides services to connect research to the marketplace and is focused specifically on protecting and commercializing intellectual property and fostering entrepreneurship.

Innovation Access  

Regional Leadership
Excellence Awards

Expert Panel Summation

Regional Resources

The Next Big Thing Slide Show

Media Coverage

Sacramento Bee

NewsTalk 1530 KFBK

Previous Successful
 Regional Collaborations

• SACOG Blueprint land use strategy

• Flood Protection—From Sutter County to the Folsom Dam and everything in between

• Partnership for Prosperity: Improving our regional economy

• Metro Pulse—Business retention and expansion efforts

• Clean Energy Technology— Green Capital Alliance

• Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2035

• Regional State Implementation Plan for air quality—A comprehensive approach to clean up our air, meet federal clean air standards and preserve federal transportation funding

• Rural Urban Connectors—An economic and environmental sustainability strategy for rural areas

Expert Panel Summation

Led by the Great Valley Center’s CEO David Hosley, a panel of experts delved into opportunities and issues that will affect the region’s employment and business opportunities in the near term. Below are excerpts from their dialogue.

Bill Mueller, 
Valley Vision CEO

Regional Collaboration: The Sacramento region over the last 15 to 20 years has really grown significantly. The way we go about implementing regional change is remarkable. Over the last decade, there’s been no dominant political leader or headquarters company or regional organization. We have pockets of leadership all across the region—what’s called roving leadership. It’s much more long-lasting and sustainable. We already have a culture of collaboration and cooperation. Many regions look to us— those outside see us several years ahead because of our natural qualities.

The Next Big Thing: After clean energy, the next big thing for our region could be medical technology—a huge competitive advantage with resources like the UC Davis telehealth network and SARTA’s MedStart program. It has all the markings of the Capital Green Alliance. 

Mike McGowan
Yolo County Supervisor

Regional Collaboration: There’s been a proliferation of communities that want to see themselves as cities. More and more are wanting to become independent and have their own set of agendas. That’s been an important part of (the regional collaboration) as people are feeling much more interested in the local level. We have come together and the trips by the Metro Chamber (Study Mission, Cap-to-Cap) have allowed a lot of us to get together and rub elbows, talk about the issues. That’s been invaluable.

The Next Big Thing: Delta water and habitat issues will have direct impact on the Sacramento region. Proposed treatment of sewage could triple the monthly sanitation bills for residents and businesses. Groups like the chamber and the local water districts must not be “asleep at the switch” as to what is being planned by state agencies and the legislature. 

Ed Manning
Partner, KP Public Affairs 

Regional Collaboration: Regional planning like the SACOG Blueprint and San Diego Blueprint have influenced the passage of infill transportation bonds. The Blueprints are the framework for the rest of the state. Sacramento is coming of age. We need to stop thinking of ourselves as second-class citizens—we can now compete with L.A. 

The Next Big Thing: The funding mechanism for transportation is broken and no one’s paying attention. Wholesale changes to the state’s tax structure are being proposed, and there’s no talk of transportation funding in the next scheme.