City selects 10 companies to receive funds and expert support to grow local businessnes
Sacramento, CA (Jan. 11, 2023) - The City of Sacramento has selected 10 companies to participate in the third installment of its “Economic Gardening 2.0” program and potentially receive up to $50,000 in matching funds for future growth.
The program pairs local companies with funding as well as experts who assist in analyzing data and creating strategies to achieve desired growth outcomes. To be selected, companies must already be well-established and have five to 99 employees and $1 million to $50 million in revenues.
“Our city has great entrepreneurs with great ideas who could be major employers and economic drivers in the future,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “Economic Gardening is a critical strategy for growing local businesses and diversifying our economy.”
Mayor Darrell Steinberg at the 2022 State of Downtown
The City of Sacramento’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development is facilitating the Economic Gardening 2.0 program in partnership with the National Center for Economic Gardening (NCEG), Berkeley Strategy Advisors (BSA), and the California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Career Center.
In addition to receiving expert research, strategy consulting, and matching funds, the businesses also have an opportunity to work with the CSUS Career Center on talent development and to partner with a student fellow/intern.
The program has served 16 businesses in year one and two.
“We are very excited to be part of the EG2.0 program. We got so much value from the professional consulting expertise that was shared with us, and now that we have received the grant funds, and are digging in to use it, and are learning so much,” said current program participant Anne Staines, CEO of Sagent Marketing. “It would have been a much slower process without this support.”
“The Sacramento Economic Gardening program has really enlightened us on the tremendous business opportunities that we have overlooked,” said current program participant CEO Kenneth Johnston of KJ2 Productions. “The research has yielded invaluable data that should assist us in growing our business.”
The selected 10 companies in year three work in areas including technology, publishing, food and beverage, consulting, and marketing.
“These businesses already contribute to the City’s economy but through the Economic Gardening 2.0 program, they will be able to grow their market share, reach and workforce,” said City Development Project Manager Lorrie Clark, who manages the program. “Focusing our efforts on these companies means strengthening the economy of the region and supporting the entrepreneurs who live among us.”
Four of the business are highlighted below:
OBSERVER Publisher Larry Lee accepts the 2021 Burnett Award from the Sacramento History Alliance. Image courtesy of the Sacramento Observer.
The Sacramento Observer is a newspaper that is focused on serving the African American community of Sacramento, CA. Founded in 1962, The Observer has been regarded as one of the best Black newspapers in America and will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2023.
e-Mission Control (eMC) designs, manages, and executes electricity consumption data products and services for forward-thinking on- and off-road vehicle fleet operators. They partner with owners and operators of zero-emission vehicles and equipment at airports, seaports, retailers, grocers, manufacturers, campuses, distribution facilities, municipalities, and others.
Fast Break Tech provides IT support and consulting for businesses ranging from one to 100 employees. Most firms and organizations cannot afford an internal IT person and their team fills this need with seven employees with unique skills to cover all bases.
Garage Champs provide custom-decorated apparel for businesses, non-profits, and organizations to create brand awareness. They specialize in high-quality screen printing and embroidery produced in large volume.
The other businesses include Midtown Spirits, Unseen Heroes, Land IQ, LLC, Symsoft Solutions, LLC, Build Momentum, and Signs Now.
The Economic Gardening Program 2.0 program is one of the strategies the City is implementing to promote inclusive economic and community development to build local businesses and create jobs in the region.
