SEED Quarterly fall 2022

From procurement to supporting small business, we're invested in the success of our communities. Learn how you can benefit from:

• Contracting opportunities. Learn about opportunities to do business with SMUD!  Visit our Solicitation Portal to learn more.
• Clean energy options. Support cleaner air and reduce your carbon footprint by enrolling in Greenergy® for your business.
• Business rebates.  Learn about opportunities to save money through a wide variety of incentives and rebates to encourage investment in energy efficiency.

See more ways we can help. And don't hesitate to contact our team for assistance any time at SEED.Mgr@smud.org.

Mark your calendar for the 2022 Meet the Buyers & Business Resource Expo!

Register now and take advantage of valuable networking opportunities, business education workshops and learn about competing for SMUD contracts.

• Meet with our purchasing team to learn more about maximizing the benefits of our programs and rebates.
• Connect with your personal SMUD advisor to learn about maximizing the benefits of our programs and rebates.
• Learn about our 2030 Vision, how lighting can enhance your business, energy efficiency in the hotel industry, and even attend a live electric kitchen demo.

You won’t want to miss this FREE event with opportunities to network with SMUD buyers, learn about programs and incentives and meet your Strategic Account Advisor.

Register now!

Learn more at smud.org/BizExpo

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB)

September 15 – October 15 is National Latinx Heritage Month. This celebration of heritage and culture begins in the middle of the month to coincide with late September Independence Days in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Visit the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to learn how you can support Latinx business and to take part in celebrations throughout the month.

November also marks Native American Heritage Month. The U.S. is home to 567 federally recognized tribes and 200 more tribes throughout our nation. Take a moment this November to celebrate the rich and varied cultures of our countries indigenous peoples. Learn more at nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov.

2022 Shine application period closed with 112 submissions

The Shine committee is currently reviewing the proposals and will provide finalists for SMUD Board review by November. Stay tuned, and best wishes to all applicants! Review previous Shine award winners.  

Did you know you can track and measure your commercial building’s energy usage?

Make informed energy efficiency decisions using Energy Star’s “Portfolio Manager”. Portfolio Manager allows commercial building owners to track their energy usage of all their units in one place. Learn how you can create your Energy Star “Portfolio Manager”.  

Supplier highlight: Uptown Studios

Uptown Studios has been a successful supplier in offering their unique marketing services to SMUD. Owner and self-proclaimed “Chief Juggler”, Tina Reynolds, shares her experience and provides advice to those interested in contracting with SMUD. 

Read Uptown Studio's success story

Tina Reynolds, President, Uptown Studios

Uptown Studios, a SEED-qualified company, has provided Sacramento with creative graphic design, website design, hosting and management, video production, social media training and management, brand development, print management and marketing services for 30 years. 

Company President, Tina Reynolds, recognizes one of the most difficult challenges she encounters as a bidder is “knowing that you are bidding against so many others.” Facing these challenges head-on, Reynolds says she “keeps at it” and “never gives up” when it comes to bidding on potential opportunities. In addition to perseverance, collaboration and outreach are also key contributors to Reynold’s bidding success. She explains, “We talked a lot to others that were bidding in different areas than we were bidding to see what ‘Magic’ they were doing to get the contracts and, little by little, we started to win the awards.” 

Uptown Studios successfully won their first contract with SMUD in 2015 and was recently awarded another last year in 2021. Reynold’s credits SMUD’s SEED program for providing numerous invitations to bid on potential contracting opportunities. She encourages current and future bidders to “Show up at the events that SMUD offers and say yes when they ask you to be a part of something - it is the best way to get to know the SMUD contacts.”

Northgate Business District COVID recovery & electrification pilot project

This past January, members from the Gardenland Northgate Neighborhood Association (GNNA) reached out to us for assistance with their recovery from the negative impacts of covid closures on local businesses and the community. Together, we found solutions to enhance long-term community energy resilience and prepare their business district for future California 2045 energy requirements.

Read how we helped

In partnership with GNNA and with strong support from the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber, we formed a team with members from each organization to identify opportunities for Recovery, Revitalization and Re-invention. Thanks to the foresight of District 3 Councilmember Jeff Harris, we’ve been able to collaborate with the City of Sacramento to outline a plan that not only benefits the business district but also the entire community.

Our team went door-to-door to the 133 small and midsize businesses within the Northgate corridor. Over several weeks we met with business owners to explain the pilot program and overall goals. After receiving permission from the business owners to conduct onsite energy evaluations, our SMUD team identified the need for outdoor security lighting, energy-efficient indoor lighting, HVAC replacements, advanced thermostat management, electric vehicle chargers, and the opportunity for conversion of restaurant kitchen equipment to updated energy-efficient models with greater safety and health benefits. As part of our education portion of the project, we offered a Spanish-language cooking demonstration where dishes typically found on Hispanic restaurant menus were prepared and sampled by restaurant owners and chefs. The class was well-received, and we intend to have additional classes for the remaining restaurant owners, adjusting the menu as needed. This fall, we’ll host a Ride and Drive event where residents can test drive a selection of electric vehicles and receive information about the numerous programs and incentives available, that make electric vehicle ownership an affordable option.

We recognized early on that we could use this pilot project as a blueprint for future business district electrification and recovery projects in other under-resourced communities. This project not only provides immediate recovery for aging business infrastructure, but also enhances long term community energy resilience and prepares businesses for future California 2045 energy requirements while creating a glidepath to economic prosperity.  Small businesses provide job opportunities and a thriving tax base. This program recognizes the importance of the small business community to our overall economic health and reflects the ongoing commitment by City leaders, community partners and SMUD to come together on initiatives which benefit this critical community.  

Have you joined the charge, yet?

Get your free t-shirt and stickers!

We’re transforming where your power comes from with a commitment to be 100% carbon free by 2030. Show your support and receive your free t-shirt and stickers! 

Join the charge

Upcoming contract opportunities

Visit bids.smud.org

Recently-awarded SEED contracts

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