News from the Elk Grove EDC

March 2013 - Vol. 5 - Issue #3

In this issue...

Sights Set on Bringing Professional Soccer to EG
The City of Elk Grove has started the pursuit of attracting a professional soccer team to Elk Grove by approving the exploration of obtaining up to 120 acres of land to be used for a soccer stadium complex.

Elk Grove Event Centers Break Ground
The Falls Event Center recently broke ground on two event buildings on about five acres of land near Highway 99 in Elk Grove.

Business Spotlight: Bravo's Soup and Sandwich Shoppe

Sights Set on Bringing Professional Soccer to EG

The City of Elk Grove has started the pursuit of attracting a professional soccer team to Elk Grove by approving the exploration of obtaining up to 120 acres of land to be used for a soccer stadium complex.

"We have been working aggressively over the past two years to get Major League Soccer interested in Elk Grove," said Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis. "They are interested and we are currently under contract with an ownership group to put a package together that would result in the construction of a 20,000-person soccer stadium and bring a team to Elk Grove. Last week we released a feasibility study confirming what we already knew-a professional soccer team would thrive in Elk Grove."

The City contracted with Conventions, Sports & Leisure International to conduct a feasibility study last October. According to the report, a soccer stadium could generate up to $15 million in spending locally during the first year of operation. The report also estimates the stadium could provide nearly 250 full and part-time jobs. The proposed stadium would be located near the partially-built Elk Grove Promenade Mall, owned by Howard Hughes Corp., that is still in the development process and continues to be promoted to potential retailers.

"Elk Grove is the perfect location for a professional soccer team," added Davis, who also stated "We have great community amenities, a high quality of life, the largest youth soccer program in the entire country, and a laser-focused vision for outside-the-box economic development."

Two Elk Grove Event Centers Break Ground

The Falls Event Center--a new company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Utah--recently broke ground on two event buildings on about five acres of land near Highway 99 in Elk Grove. The project concept is designed to provide a gathering place for personal and corporate events and includes a ballroom, boardroom, small conference room, and game room among other amenities, as well as showcasing several waterfall features as part of the signage and interior design. This prime commercial location sits near the nearly 80-acre future home of the Elk Grove Civic Center that will include an aquatic center, sports field, integrated retail and restaurants, a hotel and conference center, community performance center, a library and a children's museum. Nearby is the suburban community of Madeira and the new Mercy Medical Plaza that opened last fall.

"We are excited to welcome The Falls to Elk Grove. There has been a strong demand for large event space in Elk Grove for a long time," said EG Director of Economic Development Randy Starbuck. "This project will be a great complement to our future Civic Center, creating a true destination in Northern California. With entertainment, sports, recreation, and now an event center all within a quarter-mile radius, Elk Grove will be home the most unique civic amenity in all of Northern California."

The Falls Center plans to open before the end of the year.

Business Spotlight: Bravo's Soup and Sandwich Shoppe

Lisa Brown has been an Elk Grove business owner for many years with a dance studio, Encore Studio of Performing Arts, and a dancewear retail store, Step In Time. She and her husband are getting ready to launch yet another business--Bravo's Soup and Sandwich Shoppe--slated to open in April.

"We wanted to serve the community, and food is a very social thing," noted Brown. "It's user friendly-everyone loves to eat!"

Bravo will feature food and artisan sandwiches made with locally-produced meat and produce, as well as a locally roasted signature coffee blend. The theme-of course!-is musical theater. Their teriyaki chicken sandwich is dubbed "The South Pacific" and the "Oklahoma" sandwich features pulled pork.

"We were interested in what type of job market we could create here in town and what type of business would attract the community. Right now we have 11 workers plus two chefs and two house managers. I'd love to grow it to 20 workers eventually," said Brown. "This is a good time to open a business in Elk Grove, and I find the economic wind to be favoring our direction."

It's already been a busy year for Brown. During the first week of February, she began the process of not only preparing to open a new restaurant, but also relocating her two existing businesses to the same shopping center. When all is done, she will have moved into a total of 6,000sf of space within about a two month time period.

"I went through the City of Elk Grove to move my two businesses near the new restaurant and I have to tell you, it was smooth as a whistle," said Brown. "I worked with the EDC, and they connected me to right people at the City. In about five weeks I was able to go through the City and get all my inspections done. It was a piece of cake. They made it so easy for me. I'm happy, and my contractor is happy. He called the City hotline and they came out the very next day and did everything they said they were going to do. The permit process was very easy to go through."

Featured Property: Elk Grove Corporate Center

9355 E. Stockton Blvd.
Offered by: TRI Commercial Real Estate Services, Inc.

Tenants that locate to Elk Grove have a superb advantage of being easily accessible from Highway 99 and Interstate 5-both north/south freeways that run through Sacramento and the Central Valley of California-allowing for easy access from both the northern and southern regional communities, downtown Sacramento and surrounding Elk Grove markets.

Class A Office Building
Stunning two-story building with high end improvements
Contemporary finishes and a coffee/deli kiosk
For lease: ± 2,000sf up to ±22,400sf
Rate: $1.90/sf/mo, fully serviced
4.5 parking spaces per 1,000sf
Excellent visibility from Hwy. 99
20 minutes from Downtown Sacramento with easy freeway access
Between Bond/Laguna Blvd and Elk Grove Blvd., two of Elk Grove's main business districts
Hotels, restaurants, banking and other retail services all located within one mile of the center

For more information on this property, contact the EGEDC at (916) 691-3895, or send an email to info@elkgroveedc.org.

Find Available Commercial Property at ElkGroveSiteSearch.com

View Elk Grove's extensive commercial property listings along with size, use, cost and development incentives at ElkGroveSiteSearch.com. Corresponding demographic and statistical reports such as labor force, education levels, community profiles, and consumer spending and age can also be created. Businesses are mapped by industry showing their distribution and concentrations throughout the area. For more information contact the EGEDC at info@elkgroveedc.org.

News from the EGEDC

Quick Economic Development News Bits:

Elk Grove Ford recently became one of six Sacramento Ford dealers in the area certified to sell electric vehicles.
Dignity Health (formerly Catholic Healthcare West) continues development plans in Elk Grove after opening a $35 million medical plaza last fall.
The Elk Grove Holiday Inn is for sale. The property is strategically located near Highway 99 and is centrally located to nationally recognized restaurant chains as well as many local favorites.
The Fresh Market-a 30-year old North Carolina-based high-growth specialty grocery retailer plans to open two Sacramento-area locations in the fall including one in Elk Grove.
Medifast Weight Control Centers has opened a new location in Elk Grove.

Program Expedites Small Business Building Permits

The City of Elk Grove's new, personalized service, "T.I. Tuesdays", to expedite building permits for small businesses allows applicants to meet one-on-one with staff to process smaller tenant improvement building permits. In most cases the permit can be issued at the counter the same day. For details call 916-478-2235 or visit: www.elkgrovecity.org/building-permits.

Download EG's Small Business Start-Up Guide

Check out the City of Elk Grove's new user-friendly Small Business Start-up Guide full of tools and resources to help aspiring business owners succeed in Elk Grove!

Free Consulting From the Small Business Development Center!

The Small Business Development Center provides free business consultation to Elk Grove's existing and emerging businesses. An SBDC consultant is available at the beginning of each month in the same office space as the Chamber and the EGEDC. Free and low-cost workshops are also available. Send an email to info@elkgroveedc.org for more information.

Business License Report Online--See Who Else Has "Opened Up to Elk Grove"

Click here for the City of Elk Grove's latest online monthly new business license report!

Online Plan Reviews Streamlined
A convenient web-based electronic plan submission, review and tracking system is available on the City of Elk Grove's website that allows building permit customers to manage a plan review, upload files and track the status of a project review.

For more information on news items, contact the EGEDC at (916) 691-3895, or send an email to info@elkgroveedc.org.