The forecast in the annual "Sacramento Business Review" is for two percent economic growth in the region. The review forecasts a five-to-seven percent increase in housing prices and higher occupancy rates for retail and industrial spaces.
The report co-author, Jason Bell, says it appears lending activity is increasing after years of stagnation, but prospective borrowers are moving cautiously.
"The demand for credit -people wanting to go out and borrow- hasn't been very high," says Bell. "It hasn't corresponded with the low interest rates. We're wondering if it's a paradigm shift where people are so impacted by what happened in 2008, they're reluctant to lever up their balance sheets, go out and spend again."
One business that is expanding into downtown Sacramento is the Dailey Method - a studio combining yoga, pilates, and ballet. Owner Sandra Lemos says the City's efforts to encourage small business creation have shown results.
"I'd say the permit process has been easier for us than in other locations that we've opened up in,” she says.”The City's been great to work with in that regard and just having the support of the local business and people just eager to see a small business open up and succeed just with word of mouth other different organizations."
The Dailey Method entered a contest for small business sponsored by the Sacramento Downtown Partnership. The $100,000 it won is being used to cover start up costs.
Lemos says she plans to open the doors to the new studio on J Street February 8.
Robert Emerick plans to open Empress Tavern in the basement of the Crest Theater on K Street later this year. In one indication of better credit climates, he says he was able to finance the tavern.
"When I purchased the Crest Theater complex, what, about three years ago, banks for the most part were not lending,” he says. “It was very, very difficult to get financing shaped for real estate."
The tavern will likely be the second business Emerick opens this year. He opened Mother Restaurant yesterday.
He says what was supposed to be a "soft opening" for a limited number of diners at the vegetarian restaurant turned into a full house.
The report notes a worrisome trend continues in the high number of seasonal, unpaid, or self-employed workers.
Forecasters say the regional economy will likely be strengthened by increased domestic oil production and a weakening Chinese economy.

April 18, 2018Despite great weather, the abundance of higher education institutions and a melting pot of workers, small California communities like Davis, West Sacramento, Folsom and Lodi rank low on a national list of the Best Small Cities to Start a Business.

December 22, 2017In less than 10 days California will launch a legal marketplace for commercial sale of adult-use cannabis. A third of the state will allow commercial cannabis business according to a cannabis consultant who's tracking local regulation efforts.

December 18, 2017After 44 years as a Memorial Day Weekend tradition, the Sacramento Music Festival is ending. Organizers of the event made the announcement today citing diminishing audiences, increased costs and heavy competition.

October 18, 2017Golden 1 Center is sparking economic growth in downtown Sacramento, even though parking costs a lot more. Two local business groups say the venue helped increase employment and decrease office vacancy rates since breaking ground in 2014.

September 25, 2017You may have a hard time finding your favorite kind of rose at the florist, and Hurricane Irma is likely to blame. Irma battered Miami - which is a hub for flowers coming to the U.S. from South America. That's led to an historic flower shortage.
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