Standing near the construction site of Rancho Cordova’s proposed new downtown — a stretch of land slated to include a privately funded stadium, hotels, housing, retail and an emerging artificial intelligence hub — Mayor Garrett Gatewood discussed how the once-struggling city is positioning itself as one of California’s fastest-growing communities.

Gatewood pointed out future locations for a 7,500-seat stadium, hotels, grocery stores, housing and nearby schools. The project, city leaders say, represents a turning point for a city that has spent years shedding a reputation for blight and underinvestment.

Gatewood, 48, whose one-year term as mayor began this month, serves under Rancho Cordova’s council-manager form of government. Rancho Cordova’s five councilmembers rotate the mayoral role annually, with the mayor serving primarily as a ceremonial leader and policy guide while the city manager oversees daily operations. The city of roughly 85,000 is about 10% Black.

“We’re a bootstrap city, which means that no matter where you are, I want you to have a livable living wage,” he said. “Let’s get you a job. Let’s figure out what your next steps are so you can be the best citizen you can in our community. And then we’ll all grow together. Rising tides raise all ships. That’s 100% Rancho’s way.”

Gatewood, a longtime Rancho Cordova resident and tech entrepreneur, said he never planned to enter politics. He had owned a technology company for more than a decade when frustrations among local business owners, particularly over tax increases and stalled development, pushed him to run.

About 10 years ago, following the sudden death of a councilmember, the city opted to appoint a replacement rather than hold a special election. Gatewood said business leaders drew straws to decide who would step forward.

“I drew the short straw,” Gatewood said. “None of us wanted to be politicians. We wanted to run our businesses and take care of our families.”

After hours of deliberation, Gatewood was appointed that night.

“I wasn’t the old guard,” he said. “I’m the brand new guard.”

Gatewood said his early years on the council were marked by tension between private-sector urgency and public-sector caution. He described a city government slowed by bureaucracy, long-standing disagreements and resistance to housing development, including a controversial proposal behind a Costco.

“I kept hearing that housing was a net negative,” Gatewood said. “So I pulled out the math in a meeting and showed them it didn’t make sense.”

Over time, Gatewood said the city’s culture shifted towards economic development.

That shift, he said, helped Rancho Cordova become the only city in the region to lower its property tax rate — something he credits to growing revenue rather than increasing burdens on residents.

The AI Ecosphere Vision

At the center of Gatewood’s vision is what he calls an “AI ecosphere” — a cluster of research, development, education and data infrastructure designed to attract high-paying jobs.

“This isn’t about manufacturing the world’s chips,” Gatewood said. “This is about inventing them.”

He pointed to partnerships with SMUD, HMCI, regional school districts and major technology players, including Nvidia. Gatewood said representatives from Rancho Cordova even were invited to Washington alongside international partners from Germany and Spain.

“People were Googling us, trying to figure out what country Rancho Cordova was,” he said.

The plan includes collaboration with Folsom Cordova Unified School District, a new trade-focused high school, and pathways from K-12 education directly into careers, particularly for students not pursuing traditional college routes.

The downtown project includes a privately funded stadium expected to break ground within six months pending environmental, traffic and noise studies. Surrounding the stadium would be hotels, housing and retail designed to keep the area active year-round.

Gatewood said Rancho Cordova has grown by roughly 3,000 residents in the past year, making it the state’s fifth-fastest-growing city. Housing prices and rents have increased accordingly, which he said reflects growing demand and confidence in the city’s future.

To support growth and improve safety for people walking and biking, Rancho Cordova is moving forward with a major active transportation project along Zinfandel Drive from White Rock Road to Folsom Boulevard.

The project will create a protected, multi-use path that separates cyclists and pedestrians from vehicle traffic. The route includes underpasses beneath Gold Center Drive and Highway 50’s on- and off-ramps, as well as a landmark pedestrian and bicycle bridge that carries users over Highway 50.

The city secured a $23.3 million grant for the project, which also features a public art corridor known as the Zinfandel Artwalk. Construction is expected to begin this year, with completion anticipated in early 2027.

Another major infrastructure project will create a new connector route by removing a long-abandoned mine shaft near Highway 50 and Hazel Avenue. Once completed, the connector will allow drivers to bypass congested corridors such as Sunrise Boulevard, providing a more direct route through Rancho Cordova and into nearby communities.

The project has received state approval and is moving toward construction, Gatewood said, though it will require the relocation of existing businesses in the area.

“These projects are about making sure people can actually get to the jobs and the entertainment we’re building,” Gatewood said.

Focus On Inclusion And Public Safety

Rancho Cordova is among Sacramento County’s more racially diverse cities. According to recent demographic data, the city’s population is approximately 48.8% white, 21.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian and 9.3% Black. By comparison, Sacramento County’s population is about 60.4% white and 10.1% Black.

While Rancho Cordova’s Black population is slightly smaller than the county average, Gatewood said it is a visible and important part of the city’s identity, particularly given its history as a working-class community with large numbers of union jobs.

Gatewood, who is biracial and identifies as half Black, emphasized efforts to ensure Rancho Cordova remains welcoming, particularly to African American residents and business owners.

He cited police staffing that reflects city demographics, alternative response models involving counselors, and programs such as the city-supported Embarc business program, which provides training, mentorship and startup funding for small and minority-owned businesses.

“If you’re a Black business owner in this region, we want you here,” Gatewood said. “This is a safe place to grow.”

Gatewood also addressed past incidents involving hate symbols at local schools, including graffiti at Lincoln Elementary, saying the city works closely with community leaders across racial, religious and ethnic groups to respond quickly and prevent escalation.

Gatewood said his goals for his mayoral year are clear: secure final agreements for the AI ecosphere, break ground on the stadium, advance transportation improvements and complete construction of a new high school.

“If I can get the job-generating engine started and the entertainment district moving, I’ll consider my term a success,” he said.

Looking out over the new downtown site, Gatewood summed up his approach simply.

“I dream extremely big for my community,” he said. “If we don’t, none of this happens.”