'By any means necessary' Sacramento Zoo officials say they will raise $50 million for relocation to Elk Grove

Sacramento Zoological Society board chair Elizabeth (left) and zoo director Jason Jacobs
said they have lined up $50 million in funding for the relocation of the Sacramento Zoo. | 

Although Elk Grove taxpayers will shoulder most of the $302 million cost of the initial phase of the relocation and construction of a new Sacramento Zoo, other parties share the burden. Among those parties is the Sacramento Zoological Society, the operator of the Sacramento Zoo.

During the Elk Grove Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, April 4, the director of the SZS confidently said they could fulfill that obligation. Jason Jacobs made his claim before the commission unanimously approved the project.

"We are committed to make this happen by any means necessary," Jacobs told the planning commission. 

Realizing the negative implications of his statement, Jacobs quickly added, "Boy, that sound bad right." Jacobs added by any reasonable means.

Without citing sources, Jacobs said many people in the region support the multi-million dollar project. He added that the SZS has received commitments to help fund its portion of the construction costs. 

"We have many large businesses that are waiting on the sidelines to see a project that's officially approved," Jacobs said. 

Joining Jacobs in the presentation was SZZ board chair Elizabeth Stallard. After the statements of confidence in their fundraising ability, Jacobs and Stallard fielded a couple of non-planning questions from the commissioners.

With the imminent approval of the zoo project by Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and the city council in the coming weeks, it will be noteworthy to see if the SZS reveals their donors who will help them reach their $50 million goal. 

The entire presentation can be viewed in the video. 

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