For the next wave of economic recovery, it’s imperative that the Sacramento Metro Chamber collaboratively identify indicators and driving forces that capitalize on local innovation, intellect and influence. Additionally, we must use up-to-date technology and advances to develop a healthy, more sustainable economy that we believe will ultimately improve our region’s competitiveness. Our old consumer-based economy was obviously unsustainable. Built on easy access to money and lax lending standards, the housing and financial markets over-bloated other parts of the economy. Downstream job growth swelled, and when the housing market shriveled, other sectors followed. We await signs that our e

In 2010, will our economy be half empty or half full? I view next year as a “transitional” year—a year in which our region’s economy will begin to grow and flourish again. But to move our economy forward, we need our friends in the public sector to do their part. They must create a more business-friendly environment that eliminates the stranglehold that our current political and regulatory atmosphere holds on businesses—large or small, privately or publicly held. And in turn, the business community must hold our elected representatives, at all levels, accountable for this kind of good governance. Recently, the Sacramento Metro Chamber held the Sacramento City Council accountable by suppo

Surprise, surprise, I comment here...and many of you take the opportunity to attack the "chamber" as if we have some "agenda" here. I dont get it. Last time, I checked...the business community and chambers of commerce are all about creating a vibrant economy. You know....creating jobs. Jobs that pays people money, so people can spend that money and create other jobs. And then people pay taxes. And those taxes pay for services like police, fire, homeless, etc. This community can no longer depend upon all the state and federal jobs to support its economy. Our region needs to move forward and be prepared for the next positive economic wave, not sit back and let the next wave past us by.

Just for clarification. Rehabing ARCO arena was the first thing everyone has looked at. And since then, significant time and money has been spent to determine that ARCO arena is not expandable and/or a good candidate for a retrofit. It has significant structural design flaws that currently cause operational issues and can not be solved with a retrofit. Additionally, the facility was built for far less money 20 plus years ago than other arenas in comparable cities. So, at this point, we have an aging facility that is becoming functionally obsolete. If we want to attract the best shows, concerts, family events, conventions, NCAA tournaments, pro rodeo, truck pulls...not to mention keep a pro sports team, we will need a find a way to build a new world-class sports and entertainment facility. Personally, I prefer a catalytic project built in the downtown core near light rail, hard rail, existing parking lots and lots of people! Great examples are Charlotte, San Jose and Indianapolis to name a few.

Congratulations to Congresswoman Matsui and the greater Sacramento region. Improving our level of Flood Protection has been a priority for the Sacramento Metro Chamber and the business community for several years. It is great to see that the collaborative efforts in both public and private sectors to secure this needed funding has succeeded. And in the process, this type of funding helps to create local jobs with local companies which is so desperately needed right now.

In choosing Sacramento, Nestle followed all the rules for the permits and utilities needed, and leased existing space from a local property owner. Nestle has received more than 2,200 job applications in just in just two months. The company has already hired 11 people and has a local contractor and their crew of 80 people, now standing idle. Nestle has already invested more than $3 million, with another $11 million to follow. If the city council stops this project due to nothing more than political whim, council members better be ready to take responsibility for hanging that “closed” sign on the Tower Bridge. World-class cities bring businesses to town in a fair manner, they dont scare them away with bad policies made after the fact.