Ten years ago, Greater Sacramento was still reeling from the aftershocks of the 2008 recession. Job growth was sluggish, economic development efforts were fragmented and the region lacked a unified strategy for recovery. Business and civic leaders recognized that to compete globally and ensure long-term economic resilience, the region needed a bold new approach.
Out of that moment, the Greater Sacramento Economic Council (GSEC) was born.
On May 8, 2025, we celebrated GSEC’s 10th anniversary with our Annual Celebration, presented by Moneta Ventures. The event brought together hundreds of the region’s most influential leaders to honor a decade of unprecedented progress—and the collaborative spirit that made it possible.
How it started
In 2015, Greater Sacramento was struggling to rebuild. The area had one of the slowest recoveries in California post-recession and a lack of regional coordination hampered its ability to attract investment. In response, top CEOs and public leaders came together to build a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership: a CEO-led, data-driven economic development organization serving a six-county region, two MSAs (Metropolitan statistical area) and over 2.6 million people.
From its founding, GSEC has remained focused on one clear mission: to drive inclusive economic growth and transform the Greater Sacramento region into one of the most competitive and prosperous regions in the country.
A decade of impact
Since 2015, GSEC has made remarkable progress in reshaping the region’s economic landscape:
- 118+ new company locations and expansions supported
- 33,419+ jobs created or retained
- $15.2+ billion in economic output generated
We’ve also made real progress on broader regional competitiveness:
- Brookings Metro Monitor 10-Year Rankings (2017–2025):
- Growth: moved from 66th to 10th
- Inclusion: moved from 80th to 7th
- BLS (July 2024):
- #4 region in the U.S. for job growth
- #8 fastest-growing for educational attainment
These outcomes reflect a dramatic shift—away from dependency on government employment and toward a diversified economy powered by innovation.
From underdog to megadeals
Few thought Greater Sacramento could land headline-making projects—but GSEC changed that narrative. In just 10 years, we’ve helped the region secure transformative deals, including:
- Landed California’s largest semiconductor fab project in 30 years, an up to $1.9B investment and up to 1,700 jobs
- Solidigm: Secured global headquarters for SK hynix’s $9B SSD business unit
- MLB’s A’s: Facilitated the Athletics’ temporary home in West Sacramento
- Supported the creation of the region’s first innovation district, Aggie Square
These wins have not only made national headlines—they’ve shifted perceptions of what’s possible here.
Going global
In fall 2023, we launched our Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) program to bring Greater Sacramento to the world—and the world to Greater Sacramento. In just over a year, we’ve:
- Hosted two international delegations (~20 attendees each) and conducted site visits to Germany and South Korea
- Launched a GSEC representative in Germany
- Formed a 20+ member regional air alliance
- Received a request for proposals for Sacramento’s first transatlantic flight
- Signed three international MOUs
- Partnered with UC Davis and Aggie Square to launch a soft-landing site for Korean bioscience startups
- Supported a training partnerships to fuel the advanced manufacturing talent pipeline
Built on collaboration
GSEC’s success is grounded in the strength of its partnerships. Our 80+ member Board, chaired by UC Davis Chancellor Gary May, includes 55+ CEOs and leaders from more than 22 communities across the region, as well as representatives from tribal nations and higher education institutions.
Together, we’ve built collaborative coalitions like:
- The Competitiveness Council: Driving initiatives to strengthen the region’s global positioning
- The Economic Development Directors Taskforce: Ensuring regional alignment and responsiveness
- Cross-sector working groups on air service, branding and agri-food tech innovation
We’ve championed equity and inclusion through our Digital Upskill program, a 2020 pilot initiative funded by the City of Sacramento through the CARES Act. In partnership with the Greater Sacramento Urban League, Merit America and General Assembly, the program provided fast, cost-effective tech training to individuals from underrepresented communities. With graduation and job placement rates exceeding 90% and wages averaging 50% higher than traditional placements, participants have secured roles at companies like Accenture, HCL Technologies, VSP and Centene.
Investing in the future
We’ve prioritized building a high-performing team from the inside out—promoting from within, investing in professional development and instilling a culture of grit, innovation and mentorship. Our team continues to evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy.
What began as a regional recovery effort is now a national model for how business, government and education can work together to build a better economy for all.
As GSEC enters its second decade of impact, it’s celebrating the occasion with a new visual brand and website. The new logo is built around the theme of reflection—a nod to our past and a bold step toward our future. The five strokes in the mark represent our community’s core values: Collaborative. Inventive. Diverse. Welcoming. Prioritizing quality of life. GreaterSacramento.com
As we celebrate 10 years of defying expectations, we remain committed to pushing Greater Sacramento forward—to be more and do greater for the next generation.