0820_AUG Comstock's Magazine 0820 August | Page 81

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION Alice Waters, who founded the Edible Schoolyard Project that provides food and health education across the country, will establish the Alice Waters Institute for Edible Education at Aggie Square. It aims to help further research and policy work toward the institute’s goal of changing the world through nutritious, sustainable food for all and fits well with the Sacramento region’s farm-to-fork movement. Segar says Aggie Square also is cultivating partnerships with Sacramento State and Los Rios Community College District to align training and educational programs to support the jobs that will emerge at Aggie Square and across Sacramento. This group is collaborating, but its efforts remain informal. LOOKING FORWARD Wexford is pursuing companies that UC Davis has relationships with to gauge interest in leasing space in the first phase of Aggie Square. IBM already plans to bring a data science program to Aggie Square. Aggie Square will provide opportunities for workforce development and jobs for people in communities of need, Segar says, a big focus for collaborating community colleges, community-based organizations and the city. “Our industry partners are interested in participating in workforce development too, because they need a workforce from top to bottom,” says Segar. “Many of these science and tech jobs don’t require a higher education degree, but rather technical degrees or certificates.” Aggie Square could help put Sacramento on the map as a life science and biotech community and an innovation capital. “Beyond Sacramento, it will have a multiplier effect for the region as a whole,” says Stewart. “If the companies coming to Aggie Square outgrow their facilities there, they may very well look to other parts of the region to grow. Sacramento embraces the potential of Aggie Square, and most exciting is all the undiscovered opportunities that await .” Schetter is a proud partner of AGC of California and salutes its milestone 100th Anniversary. We’ve been partnering with AGC members to power our city for more than 60 years. Jennifer von Geldern is a freelance writer who covers regional businesses, charities, events and the people who enrich our communities. Sacramento 916.446.2521 I Martinez 925.228.2421 I Schetter.com August 2020 | comstocksmag.com 81