Small Developer Incubator Program

The City of Sacramento is partnering with two innovative non-profit organizations to pilot a Small Developer Incubator Program. The goals of this program are to create a network of developers and contractors who are invested in the economic health and vitality of local Sacramento neighborhoods and build local capacity to develop smaller-scale housing solutions to address California’s housing shortage.

The program is funded by a grant from the California Housing Systems Innovators Network’s Build it Green, a nonprofit working to change California’s housing system to better serve human and ecological vitality. Additionally, the City is contributing funding from the Neighborhood Development Action Team (NDAT). NDAT uses a community-centered approach to revitalization with a focus on racial equity and is funded through Measure U.

The project will be led by PLACE Initiative (PLACE), a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to provide differentiated, place-based implementation tools and strategies that support the integration of environmental, social, built, and economic systems to advance equitable climate solutions for all communities. They are partnering with Incremental Development Alliance (IncDev) who offers aspiring developers training and mentorship to help them take the first steps toward their small-scale real estate development projects.

Line of shovels standing upright in the foreground of a construction site open_in_full

Pilot Events

Small Developer Incubator Program Kick-off and Free Introductory Lecture

February 5, 2025 | 6-8 PM (Location TBD)

The City will be hosting a networking event followed by an information session to describe the pilot Small Developer Incubator Program and upcoming training opportunities. The purpose is to share what will be learned at future trainings, answer questions, and gauge interest. Faculty will introduce attendees to the core concepts of Incremental Development and enable networking between future cohort members and the development community at large.

Attendance is free; however, registration is encouraged.

Small Development Workshop

March 8, 2025 | 9 AM – 5 PM (Location TBD)

Small scale, incremental development is a tested approach to cost-effectively preserving existing buildings, strengthening their blocks, and improving the financial fundamentals of their contexts over time. This 8-hour in-person class explains the processes and concepts a small developer encounters in a project in a manner that is accessible to private, public and non-profit audiences.

This is considered a baseline training which will be open to the public, and available for those at all levels/professions.

The session is proposed to include the following major sections/elements:

  • Power of the Incremental Approach 
  • Business Models and Skill Sets 
  • Right Sizing Your Project 
  • Building Arts 101 
  • Market Research and Site Selection 
  • Zoning Project 
  • Pro Formas 
  • Using & Implementing Sacramento’s Code 
  • Financing a Project/Asking for Money 
  • Buying a Property/Due Diligence

Attendance will be limited. Registration and payment of a small fee is required. Scholarships are available upon request and after confirmation of need.

Small Developer Boot Camp

TBD 2025, 2 consecutive days in-person (12-16 hours) or virtual (4 weeks, 3-hour sessions)

The City will be working with the Local Host Committee and its partners to find sponsors and other funding to hold a boot camp as well as provide for ongoing bi-yearly training events. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please contact gsoos@cityofsacramento.org.

See the Small Developer Boot Camp Informational Flyer for more information.

Connect

Sign up to stay up-to-date on future announcements about the Incubator and to learn more about other housing-related project updates from the City of Sacramento.

Seeking Local Experts and Connectors!

Apply to be part of a Local Host Committee. The purpose of this committee is to:

  • Advise the team on how to engage the local community and ensure equitable representation and participation. 
  • Help build a network of local small developers, especially builders of color, women, and other people with backgrounds historically underrepresented in the development community. 
  • Connect the program with organizations and individuals that will support the needs of small developers, including funders and lenders, sponsors for future cohorts, and suppliers/vendors. 
  • Represent the diversity of the future development community in Sacramento. 
  • Provide evaluation of the pilot program afterwards.

We are looking for individuals with the following experiences:

  • Experienced well-respected developers 
  • Commercial bankers from local or regional banks 
  • Infill and adaptive reuse builders or contractors 
  • Connectors in your community 
  • Real estate brokers/realtors 
  • Appraisers 
  • Design professionals (architects, engineers, etc.)
  • Neighborhood advocacy group leaders 
  • Small businesses 
  • Labor organization representatives 
  • Chambers of commerce 
  • Local chapter representative of organizations such as ULI, Strong Towns, YIMBY, House Sacramento, etc.

APPLY HERE

Staff Contact:

Greta Soos, Senior Planner
Community Development Department
(916) 808-2027
gsoos@cityofsacramento.org

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