RANCHO CORDOVA — Rancho Cordova is making a bet that the future can be built here. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries across the world and robotics becomes central to everything from manufacturing to medicine, city leaders say they are determined to make sure their community is not left on the sidelines. On Sept. 22, the Rancho Cordova City Council approved up to $5 million to launch the AI & Robotics Ecosystem, a bold initiative designed to turn the power of technology into jobs, education, and reinvestment for local residents.
At its core, the city’s decision is about solving a problem facing communities nationwide. While AI facilities and data centers are multiplying, they often consume massive amounts of electricity and generate profits that flow to global corporations rather than local economies. In a presentation to the council, staff put it bluntly: “Small and mid-size cities lack an integrated way to turn AI-era demand, especially from power-intensive, job-light facilities, into broad local value… Rancho Cordova risks being left behind unless it establishes a coordinated strategy.”
Instead of being locked out of the AI economy, Rancho Cordova’s approach is designed to change that dynamic. The city’s plan weaves energy, people, and place into a single framework that captures benefits and directs them back into the community. City staff called the effort transformative, writing that “the AI & Robotics Ecosystem advances all three pillars of the city’s Economic Development Strategic Plan by focusing on a high-growth knowledge base contributing to innovation across industries, catalyzing reinvestment in real estate and infrastructure, and strengthening workforce pipelines in emerging technologies.”
From the outset, heavyweight partners have signed on. NVIDIA, the global leader in AI computing, is providing curriculum and certification pathways. SMUD is ensuring energy infrastructure is aligned. Solidigm, a global innovator in data storage, and FarmGPU, a local GPU compute company, are anchoring the technology side. UC Davis’ Center for Analytics and Technology will guide research, while Folsom Cordova Unified School District and Folsom Lake College will connect students and adult learners to training. The Human Machine Collaboration Institute (HMCI), which has been advising the city since March, will orchestrate the project under a professional services agreement.
The city’s plan is built on three pillars: sustainability, workforce, and innovation.
Sustainability is where Rancho Cordova intends to rewrite the rules of AI-era economics. The city will pilot the Innovation Revenue Reinvestment model, or IR2, created by HMCI. This model takes the efficiencies created by high-power AI operations and redirects them back into the community. “Through the IR2 model, energy savings are reinvested directly into local schools, workforce training, and community innovation,” the presentation explained. In practical terms, this means the money that would otherwise leave the community gets recycled into classrooms, training programs, and neighborhood projects. An Orchestration Management Platform will manage tenant onboarding, certify “AI-ready” sites, and provide financial dashboards so residents and officials can see exactly how funds are flowing back into local use. The goal is transparency and reinvestment, not just energy consumption.
Workforce development is the centerpiece of the initiative. With NVIDIA’s global curriculum as a foundation, Rancho Cordova will establish AI and robotics pathways that stretch from K-12 classrooms to community colleges and adult training centers. Students will be able to earn industry-recognized certifications while still in school, while adults will access bootcamps, apprenticeships, and community workshops that open doors to high-paying jobs. The city has set clear benchmarks: at least 400 completions in training programs and over 1,000 residents engaged annually in its early phases. Importantly, city staff stressed that “the initiative emphasizes inclusivity, ensuring pathways into high-demand fields for historically underrepresented communities.” Staff also noted the programs are designed so local students can graduate with credentials tied directly to high-paying jobs, without needing to leave the region.
Innovation will come through a combination of advanced planning tools and research partnerships. At the center of this pillar is the city’s plan to build and operate a digital twin — a virtual model of Rancho Cordova itself. This computer-based replica will allow planners and engineers to test “what if” scenarios before investing in real-world infrastructure. Want to know how traffic will shift if a new business park opens? The digital twin can simulate it. Need to calculate how much power a cluster of AI facilities will consume? The model can estimate it. Wondering which neighborhoods would benefit most from infrastructure upgrades? The digital twin can provide answers. By linking the tool with the Orchestration Management Platform, the city will be able to analyze everything from land-use planning to energy distribution in real time.
The digital twin is not a distant vision. It is listed as a concrete deliverable within the first 24 months, alongside the launch of two to three research pilots with UC Davis and other partners, and the recruitment of at least two to three companies into the ecosystem. The combination of a functioning digital twin, live data, and active industry collaboration is intended to position Rancho Cordova as a site where new AI-related innovations can be developed and applied locally, with potential regional impact.
City leaders believe Rancho Cordova is especially well positioned to succeed. “Rancho Cordova is uniquely positioned to emerge as a leader in artificial intelligence and robotics research and development, building on a foundation of exceptional local assets,” the staff report noted. Those assets include Solidigm’s data storage innovation, FarmGPU’s computing capacity, a robust network of data centers, reliable power and fiber, and available Class A office campuses that can be repurposed for new industries. The report also pointed to complementary advantages, such as the city’s flexible zoning, a school district with an International Baccalaureate program, and a centrally located business park known for safety and accessibility.
The council’s resolution formalized these ambitions. It authorized the city manager to enter into a sole-source agreement with HMCI, citing the institute’s unique expertise and proprietary technology. Staff explained that “HMCI has developed and owns proprietary intellectual property, including the Innovation Revenue Reinvestment (IR2) model and the Orchestration Management Platform (OMP) that are unique, trade-secret protected tools essential to the structure, financing, and coordination of the Ecosystem.” The resolution also approved a three-way memorandum of understanding with NVIDIA and HMCI, ensuring that Rancho Cordova’s schools and training systems gain direct access to global platforms and certifications.
To maintain accountability, the city will establish an advisory group composed of city representatives and HMCI to oversee scope, timelines, governance, and payments.
The deliverables are ambitious and measurable. Within 24 months, the city expects a functioning orchestration platform, standardized AI-ready sites, a digital twin in operation, at least two or three businesses located in the ecosystem, and multiple research pilots underway. On the workforce side, the goal is 400 program completions and 1,000 community engagements per year, backed by annual reporting to track progress.
City staff underscored that the initiative is not just about attracting companies. “The AI & Robotics Ecosystem is designed not only to attract global investment and high-tech employers but also to deliver tangible benefits to Rancho Cordova residents and businesses,” the report explained. That includes revitalizing underused office parks, expanding the tax base, and creating career pathways that prepare residents for the jobs of tomorrow.
The broader vision is equally ambitious. As the resolution states, advancing the ecosystem “will catalyze economic growth, attract investment, and cultivate workforce pipelines in high-demand industries, consistent with Rancho Cordova’s long-term vision to be a regional hub for economic opportunity.”
The city presentation framed the project in national terms, declaring that Rancho Cordova “has the chance to be the first city in the nation to turn the AI wave into a community-first opportunity.”
With millions committed, global partners on board, and deliverables mapped out for the next two years, Rancho Cordova is positioning itself as an early adopter among mid-sized cities entering the AI economy. If the plan succeeds, the next generation of AI-driven careers, research, and community reinvestment may not just be happening in Silicon Valley or global capitals, but right here in Rancho Cordova.
