Earlier this month, the Portland Metro Chamber, in collaboration with Greater Portland, Inc., led a delegation of 100 business and civic leaders to Sacramento, California. The goals: to foster connections with our peer region to the south, explore how they address common challenges, and learn how California’s capital city has fostered economic development.
In 2024, Sacramento was identified as one of Portland’s new peer regions in the Portland Metro Chamber’s 2024 State of the Economy report. As a comparable West Coast city, Sacramento faces many of the same challenges as Portland. The Best Practices Trip provided an opportunity to compare the two cities’ approaches to housing, homelessness, downtown post-pandemic recovery, urban renewal, and more.
Key trip takeaways
Navigating the livability challenges endemic in West Coast cities
Sacramento is facing challenges with housing, homelessness, substance abuse, and public safety. Trip attendees met with elected officials at the city, county, and state level to learn how Sacramento is tackling these issues.
Re-envisioning downtown and the central city
A decade ago, Sacramento began a significant downtown renovation, including the construction of a new sports arena, an entertainment district, and large-scale mixed-use developments. These projects were toured and discussed with the leaders responsible, examining their positive impact on the city.
A roadmap for urban infill mega-development
Portland has several major developments in the works, such as the OMSI District, the Broadway Corridor, and the redevelopment of the Lloyd District. Meanwhile, Sacramento is undergoing a major urban expansion that will nearly double the size of its downtown. Attendees toured The Railyards to understand the significance of this project and how the city brought it to life.
Critical impact of sports and entertainment as a economic drivers
Sports and entertainment can be major economic drivers and viable tools for urban redevelopment. This point was illustrated by Sacramento’s 10-year transformation from a quiet state capital into a vibrant hub for food and entertainment. With a thriving farm-to-fork restaurant scene and a rapidly expanding event economy, Sacramento has now surpassed its pre-COVID-19 numbers in tourism and hotel occupancy.
The visit to Golden 1 Center inspired attendees to return to Portland with new ideas for revitalizing the Moda Center and surrounding areas.
The power of a community retreat
The Best Practices Trip offers a unique opportunity for organizations to strengthen bonds, foster collaboration, and align on key goals. By stepping away from their daily environment and immersing themselves in a shared space within another city, the delegation engaged in meaningful conversations, brainstormed creative solutions, and built a stronger sense of unity. The trip offered a firsthand experience of successful revitalization efforts, allowing for collective reflection and strategic planning. This ultimately enhances perspective to bring back learned insights gained from the trip, empowering long-term success for our region.
Connecting with leaders from across sectors provided new perspectives and strengthened relationships that will drive meaningful change back in Portland. If you ever have the chance to go on one of these trips, you should definitely take it—it’s an invaluable experience.
Trip Photos
Thank you to our Trip Sponsors
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