Sacramento County Business, Economy & Jobs Digest

New numbers show that California added to its housing stock at a faster clip than any time since the Great Recession. Over that same period, the state’s population declined, marking the third year in a row that it’s fallen from one new year to the next. Does this mean the state’s perennial housing shortage could finally end? The long answer: “It’s complicated.”

The Citrus Heights City Council has approved a new program aimed at attracting new businesses to the area, with $1 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

In April, Folsom reported the third-most home sales among Sacramento County communities at 61. Elk Grove came in second place with 63, and Roseville topped the list by far with 172.

Gov. Gavin Newsom unveils his plan to cover a California budget deficit now projected at $31.5 billion, up from $22.5 billion in January. He says his plan protects investments in climate, economic development, education, health care and housing.

The Elk Grove City Council unanimously agreed on May 10 to designate Measure E funds to support fire and parks services. Measure E is a one-cent sales tax increase within the city.

Hope. That’s what Josh Fryday, California’s chief service officer who oversees the California Volunteers state office, envisions its $6.9 million grant made to the city of Sacramento will provide to 600 local youth from underserved communities.

The new See's Candies megastore on Sunrise Blvd is moving closer to reality as construction has officially begun. Residents have noticed the fresh black and white paint on the building, and will soon see the consolidation of three local See’s Candies stores.

After decades of incremental steps, construction crews have begun working on a new phase of the Township 9 housing development, between Richards Boulevard and the American River. By next year, the first of 372 garden-style apartments will open.

With thousands of homeless and food-insecure students, state legislators funded new programs to offer support to community colleges. CalMatters explores how it’s going.

A new state law aims to ensure workers with disabilities earn at least minimum wage. But some worry that the state doesn’t have enough resources to help these workers compete for jobs.

It has taken nearly 13 years but a never finished office park in Sacramento’s Little Saigon neighborhood on Stockton Boulevard is now owned by WellSpace Health, which plans to spend $120 million to turn the vacant eyesore into a medical campus.

A report from California’s department devoted to business oversight says state and federal regulators saw reasons for concern over Silicon Valley Bank’s financial practices, but didn’t force changes soon enough.

Economic models calculate reparations to eligible Black residents to address past racial inequities. The task force also voted to recommend California apologize for “gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity and African slaves and their descendants.”

One of East Sacramento’s newest businesses, University of Beer, recently made its debut. Located at 5090 Folsom Blvd., it’s part of a chain that also opened six other locations, beginning with its first site in Davis.

Cervezalandia recently made its debut on Freeport Boulevard, hoping to become a mainstay. “It was inspired by my travels to Mexico,” said founder Daniel Savala.

The action-oriented five-year plan outlines the city's vision, mission, operating principles and priority areas of focus aimed at supporting financial sustainability, increasing public safety resources, boosting economic and community development and organizational effectiveness.

After the demise of two regional banks, experts had some ideas for what the state could do differently. A clearer picture will emerge once the state’s regulator publishes a report, and lawmakers discuss options.

The latest legislative effort to give health care workers a wage that enables them to afford living in California is facing predictable headwinds, with industry lobbyists forecasting mass job cuts and higher costs to patients.

Sounding alarms about artificial intelligence has become a popular pastime, taken up by high-profile figures. Now, pioneering researcher Geoffrey Hinton has quit his role at Google so he could more freely speak about the dangers of the technology he helped create.

Fast food is the largest employer of homeless workers in California, with one of 17 unhoused individuals in the state working in the industry. That is according to a new report released by the Economic Roundtable.

Lake Mead, a key water source for California and six other states, is close to drying up. Water policy expert Felicia Marcus says dramatic action is needed on conservation, recycling and efficiency.

A California bill would hold social media companies legally responsible for addicting kids to their platforms. Tech lobbyists, digital rights advocates, and others say the proposal would run afoul of federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

Despite rhetoric from politicians and media talking heads that California is a “green leader,” the reality is much different as regulators continue to approve thousands of oil well drilling permits.

An array of public servants in Sacramento say that they’re not giving up on a vision of a vibrant Downtown being core to Sacramento’s identity. Lately, their efforts have coalesced around a specific longtime employee who’s in a new role since the mass shooting last April.

Trucking companies say the deadlines for converting big rigs, delivery trucks and other heavy vehicles are unachievable and will cause “chaos and dysfunction.” The move is designed to clean communities' air, especially near ports, warehouses and freeways.

Following a performance review, the Citrus Heights City Council voted to approve a $12,000 bonus for City Manager Ash Feeney. A report noted the council’s “positive evaluation” and said his contract does not have any “automatic cost-of-living allowances or any built-in raises.”

A bipartisan congressional group from Nevada and California is asking the Biden administration to fast-track federal funds for a private company to build a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.

New legislation takes aim at hidden fees across several industries. A growing body of research mostly shows that people spend more when fees are revealed later.

The American Jazz, a riverboat that docked for years in San Francisco, is now more local. Citing a dispute in docking fees, the cruise will now start and stop in Sacramento. Previously, Sacramento was the final stop on the week-long cruise before heading back to the Bay Area.

Following a hearing, the Citrus Heights City Council opted to postpone a vote on a proposal designed to address a rapid increase in massage establishments and curb concerns of illicit activity.

With Measure E now in effect, Elk Grove’s new total sales tax rate is 8.75%. The Elk Grove Citizen recently asked residents what they thought of the increase, and found many are in favor of it with hopes it will resolve homeless issues throughout the city.

Roseville Junction, a dining and sports development planned near the Roseville Galleria, will add Social Connection, a family-friendly beer garden. The concept is an outdoor space where kids and dogs can join beer lovers for a unique dining experience.