Associated Students Inc.’s upcoming projects in the fall semester include student discounts at businesses around Sacramento State.

ASI is planning to work with businesses frequented by students in a one-mile radius of campus to establish a network where Sac State students can present their OneCards and receive discounts, said ASI Executive Vice President Jesus Andrade.

ASI has contacted restaurants, bookstores and other student-based businesses, Andrade said, and is also taking student suggestions on which businesses to add.

ASI President Angela Arriola described the project as “a concerted effort to go to all of the community businesses, here in Sacramento, and get discounts for students.”

By mid-November, ASI plans to release a list of businesses that are willing to participate.

Gabby McGrath, ASI director of Health and Human Services, has contacted businesses in the areas of Folsom and 65th Street, Howe and Arden, and downtown businesses that are willing to participate.

Businesses willing to participate will have signs on their windows, advertising their student discounts and will be promoted on the ASI website.

ASI also plans to distribute pamphlets to students once they have gotten enough businesses participating, to help newer students find affordable restaurants and other businesses in the area, McGrath said.

“We’re poor college students,” McGrath said. “We could use the discounts.”

McGrath has been contacting a list of more than 120 businesses and has gotten businesses such as Sub Q, a body piercing parlor on K Street, Camera Arts on 57th Street, Steve’s Pizza on Howe, and Quizno’s on Howe to participate once the network comes into effect.

ASI is also working with La Bou and Lemon Grass, McGrath said, but is working with their cooperate offices for approval.

McGrath said implementing a bank account with the OneCard is a long-term goal. Students could use their OneCards like a regular check card and hold an account with the school.

The potential for an advanced OneCard with bank account features remains an idea. The first priority with the OneCard is to establish a student discount with the local businesses, McGrath said.

Some businesses already offer discounts to students. Chipotle offers Sac State students free drinks with their OneCards and the Pita Pit even accepts OneCards to pay. Monica Montoya, day manager for the Pita Pit, says it can benefit students that the business accepts the OneCard, but not that many students are aware of the advantage. On average, Pita Pit sees about two to three students use it a month.

“It benefits students because they get to use (their) OneCard off campus,” Montoya said.

Matt Beltran can be reached at [email protected]