Promise Zone Engages Community at Live Well Conference and School Summit 

October 2025 - The San Diego Promise Zone participated in the 2025 Live Well Conference and School Summit by hosting a Promise Zone panel and staffing an exhibitor booth. Steering Committee members from all working groups supported the event by sharing insights and engaging with attendees. The Promise Zone team connected with community members, highlighted ongoing initiatives, and strengthened relationships with partners and residents interested in the Promise Zone’s work. 

California Coast Credit Union Opens New Branch in Logan Heights 

August 2025 - California Coast Credit Union opened a new branch in the Logan Heights neighborhood of the Promise Zone. The branch offers banking services including accounts, loans, a coin exchange, business center, and free Wi-Fi. Community input helped shape the design of the space, which features a mural by a local artist. This branch expands access to financial services and supports small business and household banking needs within the Promise Zone.  

City Awards CDBG Bonus Points to Promise Zone Organizations 

March 2025 - As part of the annual Community Development Block Grant Request for Proposals, the City of San Diego continued awarding Promise Zone bonus points to strengthen investment in local organizations. Nineteen applicants received points for having a primary location in the Promise Zone, and 22 earned points for providing services to Promise Zone residents. Bonus points were also awarded to 25 organizations that have a signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Promise Zone or were actively pursuing one. Of the 23 CDBG awards announced for the FY 2026 funding cycle, nine were granted to nonprofit organizations located in or serving the Promise Zone

Promise Zone Partners Participate in Alliance Accelerator to Support Community Wealth Building

2025 - Promise Zone staff and partners continued working with the Alliance Accelerator, a national technical assistance program supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Through virtual and in-person workshops and peer learning sessions, partners strengthened their capacity to pursue community wealth-building strategies such as cooperatives and shared ownership models. This work is helping deepen collaboration among local organizations and align future funding opportunities with community priorities.

The Promise Zone Team Participates in Barrio Logan Business Walk

May – July 2024 - During the Summer Break, the Economic Activity Working Group participated in the Barrio Logan Business Walk on June 27, 2024, alongside the City of San Diego’s Economic Development Department. During the 2-hour walk, representatives from 8 partner organizations helped reach out to 78 businesses to hear about any concerns they had with operating their businesses in the Promise Zone. The feedback they received from business owners about the myriads of safety concerns surrounding infrastructure has helped influence the shift in the working group priorities to more directly address safety. 

Promise Zone Team Hosts Two Cooperative Convening Events 

May 2024 - The Cooperative Convening I & II events took place with the goal of informing interested parties about the benefits of worker-owned co-ops in business, food, and housing. The first event was held in-person and had a total of 46 attendees who listened intently as Café-X owner Cynthia Ajani described how being a member of a cooperative benefits her business. A similarly attentive audience of 24 individuals attended the Zoom-based Cooperative Convening II event where Urban Planner, Grant Ruroede alongside small business owner, Kirk Vartan shared their personal experience converting Grant’s traditional business to a worker-owned coop and why they are now lobbying the State Legislature to make becoming a co-op less daunting. 

CDBG Funding Supports Organizations Serving the Promise Zone

April 2024 - As part of its annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Request for Proposals process, the City of San Diego awarded Promise Zone bonus points to organizations that are based in or serve residents within the Promise Zone. In the FY 2025 funding cycle, 9 out of 48 applicants received bonus points for having a primary location in the Promise Zone, while 37 applicants earned points for providing services to Promise Zone residents. Of the 34 CDBG awards announced in April 2024 (for the contract term July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025), 13 grants were awarded to nonprofit organizations supporting communities within the Promise Zone.

Investing in Partners Through Financial Assistance Grants

August 2023 - The San Diego Promise Zone partnered with Cal Coast Credit Union to offer the Partner Financial Assistance (PFA) grant program, designed to support capacity-building efforts of partner organizations. A total of 30 organizations requested over $336,000 in funding to support various projects. After a review and scoring process by City staff and Cal Coast Credit Union representatives, eight organizations were awarded a total of $70,500, with awardees announced in October 2023.

Assessing Banking Access to Expand Financial Resources

February 2023 - The Economic Activity Working Group conducted an ATM audit within the Promise Zone to assess ATM fees, dollar bill increments, hours of operation, language accessibility, and types of ATM (bank, credit union, or independent). This Phase 1 walking audit provided critical data on banking accessibility in the Promise Zone and helped inform the City’s partnership with California Coast Credit Union to expand banking resources. Additionally, in May 2023, the Financial Wellness Center was launched within the Promise Zone to offer financial education and resources to community members.

Strengthening Small Business Support Through Asset Mapping

2021 - The Economic Activity Working Group focused on expanding and strengthening its network of support for small businesses in the Promise Zone. To achieve this, the group conducted an asset map exercise to build a referral network among partners and identify service gaps to advocate for additional investment. The working group’s co-chair provided strategic oversight, while VISTAs contributed by compiling data, scheduling 1-on-1 partner check-ins, and regularly updating the working group.

Empowering Small Businesses with Financial Assistance and Peer Support

2021 - The Economic Activity Working Group dedicated meetings to collaborate on best practices for assisting businesses access capital and receive technical assistance during the pandemic. As part of this effort, the group launched a Promotora (Community Ambassador) pilot project, which empowered and compensated local business owners to serve as ambassadors for their peers. Based on these discussions, the working group played a direct role in shaping the Small Business and Nonprofit Relief Fund, developed in partnership with The San Diego Foundation and the Small Business Development Center network.