1. Partnering with Your Local Utility The Business Case for Entrepreneurship
Jim Alves
March 22, 2012
Powering forward. Together.

2. Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
Nation’s sixth-largest public electic utility
Founded in 1946
Population in our service area: 1.4 million
Residential customers: 529,695
Business customers: 68,510
Size of our service area: 900 square miles
Number of SMUD employees: 2,036
Miles of power lines we own: 10,257

3. SD-13 Policy
“The District shall assist in retaining, recruiting and growing rate-paying businesses in order to build and maintain a healthy and inclusive commercial and industrial customer base that benefits all customer classes. The District shall emphasize assistance to businesses that promote energy efficiency, advanced renewable technologies, and environmental protection.”
The policy also directs that “the District shall:
a) Promote the development and growth of small and emerging businesses.
b) Partner with local and regional organizations in collaborative efforts.
c) Develop enhanced rates and new service incentives.
d) Support the Sacramento Region Blueprint Transportation and Land Use Study planning principles and preferred growth scenario.”

4. Economic Development Business Attraction
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Business Advocacy & Regional Initiatives
Business Retention & Expansion

5. Why we partner with Economic Development Professionals?
Shared mission of economic prosperity
We are a resource and offer resources
Traditional: Bill Projections, Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Meet with Prospects, Red Teams, etc.
Nontraditional : Loan Programs, Marketing, Sponsorships, etc.
Be Creative!
Over the evolution of the last four years, we’ve enhanced and developed metrics. Developed some key performance indicators to help measure our success.
The other Macro goals at the bottom are traditional economic output indicators.

6. Why Invest in Entrepreneurship?
Promote the development of the Innovation Economy as a driver of economic growth
Partner with local organizations
Example: Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance (SARTA)
How we do it?
These are the less known and advertised services that Staff provides……
SEED’s activities both support SD13 and SD15 outreach and communication
Econ Dev program also supports all of these. In addition, our partnership with SARTA and new leads on new Clean Tech companies requires us to help vet out or facilitate interaction with R&D Team here.

7. Innovation-focused economic development
Thursday, March 23, 2012

8. Why SARTA?
SARTA is the Sacramento region’s leading champion of innovation and entrepreneurship
Five Primary Areas of Focus for 2012:
Drive job growth in the highest opportunity industry sectors
Accelerate investment dollars into local companies
Utilize the area’s strongest assets more effectively
Foster a culture that embraces risk-takers
Create a vibrant community where innovation can thrive

9. Programs and Services

10. A co-leader of regional economic development:
One of 12 state iHubs, and exploring the national designation: