Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here today.

Sacramento already knows what it means to “light the beam.” Now, we’re about to show Sacramento what it means to “Place the Beam” and take Aggie Square to the next level.

I’m delighted that we’re celebrating another milestone for Aggie Square. And I’d like to thank some of the people who helped take us from vision to what you see now. Mayor Darrell Steinberg, our great working partnership with City of Sacramento has been key to Aggie Square’s progress.  I also the neighborhood leaders who’ve served on our Community committees and shared their input to help guide the vision for Aggie Square.

I also want to thank Tom Osha and the whole team at Wexford Science and Technology for their partnership with us on Aggie Square and to invest in the Sacramento region.

I want to thank Bob Segar, our chief of campus planning, who is leading the design of Aggie Square. He couldn’t be here today but I want to acknowledge his leadership and guidance. And thank you to U.S. Representative Doris Matsui, Vice Mayor of Sacramento Eric Guerra, Councilmember Caity Maple, and Jay Schenirer who were early supporters of Aggie Square. 

Finally, I want to thank the construction partners, local tradespeople, and university partners for around the clock support to make this development successful including 52 workers who put together Aggie Square’s glass curtains. 38 live within 10 miles from the job site.

Today’s topping off ceremony marks a huge accomplishment. This first phase of construction brings us one step closer to opening Aggie Square’s doors.

An astounding 728,000 square feet is part of this first phase and includes a life science, engineering and technology research and academic building designed for start-up companies, student classrooms and community programming.

It’s just the next big chapter of the Aggie Square story. As we transform this site into a thriving hub where we can collaborate and innovate together, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.

This transformative development will push on the path toward more, so that local communities can prosper.  When workers near and far contribute to a project of this magnitude, we build community.

Overall, it’s estimated that Aggie Square will generate $5 billion in economic impact each year. In this first phase, we also expect that Aggie Square will generate millions annually in new revenues for the city of Sacramento.

Innovation districts like Aggie Square matter. They help build healthy, resilient communities for generations to come.

I’m looking forward to much more.

Thank you again to all our supporters.

And now I welcome Tom back to the stage.