Originally published on May 15, 2017 on StateScoop.com by Colin Wood
A new chief innovation officer began on Monday in Sacramento, a city spokesperson confirmed to StateScoop.
Louis Stewart will lead projects in the newly-formed Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which is now being restructured. Stewart, who replaces interim chief innovation officer Abhi Nemani, joins from a position as executive appointee at the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, where he served the past seven years.
In his new role, Stewart will oversee Sacramento’s Innovation and Growth Fund, a $10 million plan designed to promote regional technology growth and improve civic engagement.
“I grew up here in Sacramento and have always wanted to give back in a direct way,” Stewart told StateScoop via email. “There’s so much excitement around what’s possible in our city right now, especially within our small but vibrant entrepreneurship community.”
Stewart also noted the “powerful” advantage of civic tech, mobility, and health and life sciences sectors converging in the city.
“What’s unique about Sacramento is that we also have all the regulatory bodies converging here from local, state, and federal agencies to policymakers on each of those levels,” he said. “Then you look at the fact that we have a mayor who is leaning in and pushing, who understand how to catalyze these sectors so they can scale up, and who has the relationships with our regulators and policymakers.”
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