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Welcome to the City of Rancho Cordova's news page. Read current and archived news, and access media contacts and press announcements.

Inside Rancho Cordova's AI & Robotics Ecosystem

Post Date:07/20/2026 11:07 AM

In case you missed it, at the Friday, July 17 Rancho Cordova Luncheon, Laura Fickle, the city's Economic Development Manager, kicked off the presentation before introducing speakers J.P. Morgan, Chief Innovation Officer at the Human Machine Collaboration Institute (HMCI), and Rita Gass, the city's Chief Technology & Innovation Officer. Together, they explored Rancho Cordova's AI & Robotics Ecosystem.

The luncheon is hosted on the third Friday of each month by the Cordova Community Council and the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce.

What is the AI & Robotics Ecosystem?

Rancho Cordova’s AI & Robotics Ecosystem brings together education, business, government, and the broader community to help design what the future of AI and robotics will look like in our city – and to create meaningful opportunities for stakeholders to participate, collaborate, and benefit.

The ecosystem includes:

🏫 Schools, colleges, and training programs that prepare students and workers for emerging careers
🏢 Employers and entrepreneurs who create jobs, develop new technologies, and invest locally
🛣️ Public-sector partners who shape policy, fund infrastructure, and create the conditions for innovation to thrive
🤝 Community members and organizations whose perspectives and participation will help ensure the ecosystem creates opportunities for everyone

The initiative builds on Rancho Cordova's long history of innovation, dating back to its role in the Space Age and its aerospace industry.

Rita Gass also highlighted how the city is leveraging artificial intelligence internally to maximize efficiency and improve city services for the community.

The luncheon concluded with an engaging discussion, as attendees shared their enthusiasm and asked thoughtful questions about the future of AI and its impact.

Learn more about the AI & Robotics Ecosystem at CityofRanchoCordova.ai.

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Press Announcements

Media Contacts

Maria Chacon Kniestedt
Communications & Public Affairs Director
916.851.8791
916.200.6181 (cell)
mkniestedt@cityofranchocordova.org

Samantha Mott
Senior Communications Officer
916.851.8796
916.579.0671 (Cell)
smott@cityofranchocordova.org

Danielle Hale
Communications Officer
916.851.8792
916.809.0465 (cell)
dhale@cityofranchocordova.org

Lauren Burke
Communications Officer
916.851.8723
916.247.2587 (Cell)
lburke@cityofranchocordova.org

City of Rancho Cordova Opens $8.4M Youth Center

On November 3, 2022, the City of Rancho Cordova opened the Rancho Cordova Youth Center, the first youth center in the community. The Youth Center will provide a welcoming, central and safe environment for year-round youth programs, build relationships with local youth, and show local youth how much the community cares about their success and future in Rancho Cordova.

City of Rancho Cordova Breaks Ground on Citywide, Ultra-High-Speed Gigabit Broadband Network

On February 28, 2022, the City of Rancho Cordova, SiFi Networks and GigabitNow announced the launch of Rancho Cordova FiberCity®, a revolutionary infrastructure project to bring a fast, affordable, and reliable all-fiber internet network to every home, business, and institution in Rancho Cordova.

For more information, please contact Danielle Hale at 916.809.0465 or dhale@cityofranchocordova.org.

Mather Veterans Village Dedication Event

On October 12, 2021, Mercy Housing California, Nation’s Finest, the City of Rancho Cordova and the County of Sacramento celebrated the completion of all three phases of Mather Veterans Village, the first permanent supportive housing development for homeless and disabled veterans in the Sacramento region.

These documents are password protected. Please contact Danielle Hale at 916.809.0465 for access.

Crime Drops in Rancho Cordova by 61%

The City of Rancho Cordova is proud to announce that violent crime and property crime combined has decreased by 61% from 2004-2019 when adjusted for population. Since the city incorporated and established the Rancho Cordova Police Department 18 years ago, the city has implemented creative and proactive policing programs that have led to this significant drop.

Media Advisory about Crime Drop in Rancho Cordova
Fact Sheet on Programs
Speaker Bios from Crime Drop Announcement
B-Roll, Photos and Crime Statistics (This is password protected. Please contact Ashley Downton at 916.542.3875 for access.)
News Release: Crime Drops in Rancho Cordova by 61%

Rancho Cordova Breaks Ground on Rio Del Oro Development

Elliott Homes, Inc. and the City of Rancho Cordova are breaking ground on Rio Del Oro, the largest development in the city’s history. Rio Del Oro spans 3,800 acres in Rancho Cordova and could fit Downtown Sacramento in its footprint. The development will feature thousands of new homes, over 7.6 million square feet of commercial, professional and industrial space, one of the largest parks in the region at 130 acres, and the city’s next high school.

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