Elk Grove Launches Economic Development Awareness Initiative

The City of Elk Grove is launching an economic development awareness program aimed at attracting and expanding businesses and employment in the city.

The “Open Up to Elk Grove” advertising and outreach program kicks off today, and will educate current and prospective businesses about new incentive programs and business-friendly improvements to customer service at Elk Grove City Hall.

The Elk Grove City Council has made recruiting and retaining businesses a top priority and has made a dedicated effort to promoting the benefits of doing business in Elk Grove.

“The City of Elk Grove is committed to economic recovery and is rolling out the welcome mat for new and existing businesses,” Mayor Sophia Scherman said. “From reducing development impact fees to introducing new economic development incentive programs, we’ve made Elk Grove an exceptional and worthwhile place to do business.”

The City will run advertisements in local newspapers, business and trade publications, on targeted websites and through direct mail. Staff will promote the City’s economic development programs throughout the region at events and conferences in various business communities.
The City of Elk Grove’s incentive programs include:

• Fee Deferral Program: Qualifying development projects can defer fees for up to five years with no payment or interest the first three years.
• Economic Development Incentive Program: Businesses new to Elk Grove that create 20+ jobs with qualifying salaries may receive reduced fees, grants, project coordination and expedited plan review. In addition, interest on deferred fees may be waived.
• Reduced Development Impact Fees: Development impact fees have been reduced by more than 30%. This is the first reduction in the city’s history, and the largest reduction in the region.
• Sewer Fee Credit Program: The City of Elk Grove offers a Sewer Fee Credit Program to businesses creating new jobs in the City. This program may reduce hook-up fees by 50 to 90 percent for any business that qualifies for the credit.
• State and Federal Office Incentive Program: Nearly one out of every three workers living in Elk Grove is employed by the State of California. That’s why the City introduced an innovative incentive program designed to bring more state jobs closer to where their employees reside. Elk Grove is the first city in the state to offer this innovative program.

The City of Elk Grove’s commitments to the business community and local economy:

• The City established an Industry Working Group with representatives from homebuilding, engineering, and commercial development sectors to provide ongoing review and improvement of City processes.
• The City of Elk Grove created an Economic Development Project Review Team consisting of local public representatives that provides direct oversight to new development projects.
• The City offers online tools to make a business search, licensing and start-up easy and convenient at www.elkgrovecity.org/online-services.
• The City appointed a designated staff person to act as a full-time Economic Development Coordinator to work directly with existing and future business owners and walk customers through the City’s application process every step of the way. 

• The City assisted in launching a shop local program called “Think, Shop, Live Elk Grove” to educate residents and businesses about the importance of spending locally— www.shopelkgroveca.com
• Elk Grove partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to create the Elk Grove Economic Development Corporation to launch an aggressive effort to attract more jobs and help existing businesses increase employment.

For more information, and to view the program in detail, visit www.OpenUptoElkGrove.org or call Heather Ross, economic development coordinator, at 916.478.3686.