A native of the Bay Area, Mikel (pronounced me-kel) Davila moved to Seattle in 2006 to study business and economics at Seattle University. Before moving to Sacramento, CA in 2018, Mikel led community economic development efforts in Seattle as a Business Districts Advocate with the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development and with the White Center Community Development Association. Mikel’s passion is working with historically underinvested communities and business districts to build capacity and attract investment and was successful in providing small business grants to mitigate a disruptive construction project in Seattle’s Central Area. Prior to joining the City of Sacramento, Mikel worked in the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development on regional economic development initiatives to promote the interdependent nature of talent and natural resources in the central valley to economic access in the coast. At the City of Sacramento, Mikel continues his passion of serving and investing in the small business community, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, led a multimillion-dollar program in partnership with FEMA and the California State Office of Emergency Management to invest in local, small restaurants to provide meals for seniors. He is also a co-lead for the City’s Neighborhood Development Action Team, which supports economic justice and recovery in Sacramento’s commercial corridors. Mikel is a proud board member of FEEST – a nonprofit led by youth of color focused on organizing campaigns to improve schools.
50-word or less bio Mikel started with the City of Sacramento in 2019 with the Office of Innovation and Economic Development. He is a co-lead for the City’s Neighborhood Development Action Team, which supports economic justice and commercial revitalizations in Sacramento’s commercial corridors.