The24thEconomicGardening Certification class will be held May 4-6 in Colorado.

What you will get:

• A short history of how this popular grassroots program came about.  Over 1,000 communities have made inquiries over the past 30 years.
• A look at why some parts of the nation are rich and some parts are poor
• The key economic elements of thriving local communities, including the eco-system which supports entrepreneurs
• The principles, tools and practices used with Stage 2 companies to accelerate their growth
• The practical aspects of running an Economic Gardening program, including a pilot project in coordination with NCEG’s national team

Contact cgibbons@economicgardening.org for registration form and logistical information.

Smartcitiesdive.com features an excellent article on Sacramento’s new Economic Gardening pilot program. Visit the website to read more.

MEDIA RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer Singer, 916-995-4385, jsinger@cityofsacramento.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City of Sacramento selects seven companies to receive funds and expert support to grow local businesses

Sacramento, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2020) – The City of Sacramento has selected seven companies to participate in its Economic Gardening 2.0 pilot program and potentially receive up to $50,000 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 outcomes. In order to be selected, companies must already be established and have five to 99 employees and $1 million to $50 million in revenues.

“We can’t rely on attracting corporate headquarters from elsewhere in order to grow and diversify our economy in Sacramento,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “We must focus our attention on nurturing the entrepreneurs who have already planted their businesses in Sacramento and help them to expand and thrive. Our Economic Gardening 2.0 program is a key component of that strategy. The young companies we are working with today could be our major employers in the future.”

The City of Sacramento’s Urban Technology Lab (SUTL) is facilitating the Economic Gardening 2.0 program in partnership with the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Career Center. In addition to receiving the 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.

The seven companies work in areas including construction, event planning, meal delivery and manufacturing, 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. Four of the businesses are highlighted below:

Trifecta in DOCO in downtown Sacramento is a ready-made organic meal delivery service with a focus on healthy meal options.

Preservation & Co in Midtown Sacramento produces hand-crafted and hand-packed products such as bloody Mary mix, pickled vegetables and sauces.

Uptown Studios on Broadway in Sacramento is a creative firm founded in 1992 specializing in graphic design, website design, hosting and management, video production and marketing services.

AHI Construction, soon to open an office in Sacramento, will focus on the booming construction industry in the city.

The other businesses include Honey, The Party Concierge and Hamilton Devices.

“This program is huge because it gives us a chance to retain and expand business in the area, rather than solely attracting it from the outside,” said the City’s Chief Innovation Officer Louis Stewart. “It is crucial that we explore innovative ways to support our local economy.”

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. SUTL is also implementing a $1 million Innovation Grant program to grow the local startup community to build industry-specific workforces, market local resources and encourage companies to relocate to the area and growth. Find more details here: https://innovatesac.org/innovation-grants/

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The Sacramento Urban Technology Lab (SUTL) launched in 2018 as part of the City’s efforts to bring new and innovative companies, infrastructure and jobs to the region. SUTL is where government, academia and industry collaborate to transform Sacramento into that of a living laboratory for entrepreneurs, advanced technology businesses and academic institutions to test, develop and scale their ideas, products and services. For more information, visit innovatesac.org

The Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce advocates for and supports the inclusive economic prosperity of our Capital Region by leading efforts for business. Established in 1895, Metro Chamber is the largest, most prominent and established voice for business representing 1,400 members and their workforce in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.

The Sacramento State Career Center is the central hub for career and internship services at the university. Working with businesses and organizations of all sizes and from all sectors, the Career Center is committed to delivering the very best value for employers’ recruiting efforts.

The Cabarrus EDC located in North Carolina is awarding five local, second-stage companies with grants to participate in Grow Cabarrus — a pilot program launching in partnership with the National Center for Economic Gardening.

Read more about the program here.

We are often asked about who influenced Economic Gardening:

• The early beginnings of Economic Gardening included principles developed by Paul Romer, eventual winner of the Nobel Prize for economics
• The work of Brian Arthur influenced the early development of Economic Gardening

Sacramento’s Fox40 TV had a nice interview on the City of Sacramento and Metro Chamber’s new Economic Gardening program. Watch the interview here.

Economic Gardening is featured in the International Economic Development Council’s lead article in their online newsletter.  The article covers the current status of the program.

Click here to read the article in PDF format

Registration is open for a free, one-hour webinar: Introduction to Economic Gardening on Friday, April 3rd, 2020  at 9 a.m. MDT (adjust for your own time zone). To register, email christiangibbons47@gmail.com.

This webinar is about the formal program developed in Littleton, Colorado and is now run by the National Center for Economic Gardening all across the country.

“Economic Gardening” is a book that covers the history and background of the original “grow your own” economic development program in Littleton, Colorado.  The book also include chapters on the program as it is run today by the National Center for Economic Gardening, as well as a complete listing of the principles, tools and analytical techniques used in high fidelity programs.  Part II of the book is called “An Amateur’s Observations on the Economy” and includes a collection of unusual insights into the economy derived from 30 years of work in Economic Gardening.

To download the book in PDF format please visit this page.