The City of Sacramento has officially rolled out its CityStart Blueprint, a game plan focused on boosting racial wealth equity, with particular attention to the city’s Black community. According to a recent article on Sacramento City Express, the strategic framework sets forth initiatives across workforce and small business development, housing, and financial services to foster fairer economic opportunities.
The blueprint’s unveil comes with an invitation to the public to partake in a series of events from May 14–16. Designed to inform residents about the new measures and spur community involvement, the events signal a step towards the practical applications of the plan's three key strategies. As reported by Sacramento City Express, Mayor Kevin McCarty expressed that “This blueprint reflects our commitment to addressing financial disparities in Sacramento” and that it “strengthens the foundation the City has already built and ensures our work remains focused and responsive to the needs of our community.”
In crafting the foundation for greater wealth equality, the blueprint leverages a combination of workforce training tailored to high growth sectors, expanding supportive measures for Black-owned businesses, and promoting homeownership and local investment through novel incubator programs and down payment assistance. An important collaboration mentioned includes partnerships with UC Davis and Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA) to facilitate professional training for Black residents.
The launch events for the CityStart Blueprint are set to include mixers and workshops, providing a platform for dialogue and connection among those who place themselves at the helm of housing, banking, and workforce development. Sacramento City Express details that a "Blueprint Release Event" on May 14 will invite attendees to Old Sacramento, with Mayor McCarty shedding light on the transformative strategy. While the event promises networking and free food, it also assures participants copies of the blueprint bound. A subsequent housing equity workshop and a community networking mixer, scheduled for the following day, aim to sustain the momentum started by the Sacramento Promise Zone legacy.
Jonathan Mintz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, recognized the plan's potential for making a substantial difference in residents' economic stability. Mintz commented, as noted by Sacramento City Express, “Sacramento’s CityStart blueprint is a bold plan to meaningfully improve residents’ financial stability, developed in collaboration with partners from across the city.” He also highlighted opportunities for other CityStart partners to draw inspiration from Sacramento's initiative. The CityStart blueprint champions a focused mission: instigate workforce development, enhance housing options, and establish fair banking practices as crucial conduits to building long-term wealth for individuals and families. Sacramento takes this step hoping to seed a future where financial equity is the norm, not the aspiration.
