SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
Jennifer Hall
SACRAMENTO INNOVATION LEAD , ACCENTURE
Can you speak to the connectivity between the Capital Region and the Bay Area ? What does transportation look like in a megaregion and how can we get there ?
Over the past few months , it ’ s become evident that virtual collaboration is having tremendous impact on business and increasing productivity in the workforce . As we look forward , we know that virtual teaming is going to be critical for organizations to work smarter and advance innovation . We also know that the diversity of teams and diversity of thinking is essential , therefore , bridging deeper connections between ( the ) Capital Region and ( the ) Bay Area is going to be a huge advantage for companies to drive impact . This collaboration can speed up work we deliver to clients and help to reduce redundancies . To give you an example , the Accenture team in Sacramento developed solutions on how technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality can help with training … everyone from highway patrol officers to social workers . This technology could be applied to other industries and across businesses , so instead of recreating the tool , organizations can take these learnings and customize to their specific needs . It ’ s just one example of how sharing of resources and building better connections can speed innovation and empower new ways of thinking . Post pandemic , we will also need to think about how improving transportation between the two regions can continue fostering this culture of collaboration . We need to rethink our approach to public transportation , ride-sharing and traffic management to help create a seamless end-to-end commuting experience . However , for now , companies need to prioritize on how technology can play a powerful role in establishing stronger relationships between teams across the megaregion .
How does the megaregion partnership benefit the City of Sacramento ? In the wake of the pandemic , do you think this partnership will help the region recover ?
There is no question that this megaregion partnership will benefit the City of Sacramento and the greater region in profound ways . Before ( the pandemic ), we were really on the precipice of elevating our inclusive economy to even greater heights . This included plans to spend $ 40 million a year in Measure U revenue on a variety of economic growth initiatives focused on youth , workforce development and assistance to small businesses . We were also poised to issue a $ 50 million housing bond , followed by $ 50 million next year that would have allowed us to help address the shortage of affordable housing that holds many families back . We were already benefiting substantially from our collaboration with the Bay Area in terms of start-up companies and also people moving here to take advantage of somewhat lower costs . ( The pandemic ) has temporarily derailed plans for Measure U spending and also the housing bond , but we are poised to recover more quickly because of our association with the megaregion . We allocated $ 10 million of our CARES Act funding for workforce training . Hundreds of people are being trained right now in data management , IT , the construction trades and much more . As one region I am confident we can recover at a much faster rate because we are committed to tackling our issues together .
Darrell Steinberg
MAYOR , CITY OF SACRAMENTO
December 2020 | comstocksmag . com 99