U.C. Davis working to bring new opportunities to Sacramento
(FOX40.COM)–U.C. Davis isn't just an academic powerhouse; it's a major economic engine for the Sacramento region. A new report shows the University generates nearly 10 billion dollars in local economic impact each year, supporting tens of thousands of jobs.
As a result, U.C. Davis is moving full steam ahead with construction underway at Aggie Square. Once completed, the U.C. Davis Innovation Hub is expected to be a game changer for the Sacramento region. It will bring new jobs, new investments, and new opportunities to the community, according to U.C. Davis officials.
In the heart of Sacramento's Oak Park neighborhood, a transformation is taking shape. George Baxter, the Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer for U.C. Davis, says, 'We are moving faculty, students, and staff into that space as we speak. Over the next couple of months, it will feel like a square with our staff and students.'
Aggie Square's 'New Innovation District' is more than just an extension of the campus, it's designed to spur job creation, research, and economic growth. Baxter says, ' It's really quite a large impact more than most people would consider for universities.' Once fully built, the project is expected to generate over $500 million in regional economic output each year and support more than 3,200 jobs. Baxter added, 'We will be doing research here, teaching, continuing professional education, running community courses, and really opening yourself up to the wider community in the Oak Park area and elsewhere in Sacramento.'
A new economic impact report shows U.C. Davis contributes $9.6 billion to the Sacramento Metro Economy, supporting more than 61,000 jobs statewide, and that impact grows to more than $13 billion.
A HUB Sacramento Mayor, Kevin McCarty says it's a major milestone for the city. He went on to say, 'This is a multibillion-dollar project bringing thousands of jobs right here to the core of Sacramento. And let's face it, we've been lamenting about our economy, good or bad, as our state workforce, and we've always wanted to have a little bit of what we see in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. And this allows us to have that right here in Sacramento.'
Aggie Square is also attracting global interest, including a new partnership to bring international startups to Sacramento. A deal with a South Korean company is set to bring startup groups to Aggie Square as a soft-landing hub, helping them connect with U.C. Davis and the Sacramento market.Aggie Square's Grand Opening Ceremony is this Friday, and it is open to the public. The event runs from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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