County of Sacramento
On behalf of Sacramento County’s Office of Economic Development (OED), HR&A Advisors led the development of a comprehensive, Countywide Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP). The EDSP establishes a clear five-year framework to support business retention and attraction, small business and entrepreneurship, workforce-aligned industry growth, arts and culture, and commercial corridor revitalization, with a focused emphasis on unincorporated Sacramento County.
HR&A designed and executed a robust, equity-centered process that combined data-driven analysis with extensive stakeholder engagement. This work included a detailed existing conditions assessment of demographic, socioeconomic, industry, workforce, and real estate market trends; an evaluation of Sacramento County’s economic development ecosystem and organizational role; and a review of national best practices. Key findings identified a strong employment base anchored by government and healthcare, limited tradable-sector activity—particularly in unincorporated areas.
Engagement activities included an advisory committee, one-on-one interviews with elected officials and senior staff, nine thematic focus groups with business, workforce, arts, agricultural, and economic development partners, three public community meetings, and a Board of Supervisors workshop. Stakeholder input consistently emphasized expanding small business technical assistance, improving awareness and access to County services, supporting workforce pipelines aligned with priority industries, addressing commercial corridor conditions, and strengthening OED’s role as a convener and connector.
Insights from the analysis and engagement informed a clear economic development vision, three strategic pillars—Resources, Communications, and Partnerships—and a set of implementable strategies, actions, metrics, and timelines. The final EDSP provides OED with a pragmatic roadmap to align programs, partnerships, and investments to advance equitable economic growth, strengthen unincorporated communities, and elevate Sacramento County as a competitive and inclusive place to do business.
