San Diego Promise Zone

The San Diego Promise Zone, on June 6, 2016, became one of 22 federally designated Promise Zones in the United States and one of only four in California. The San Diego Promise Zone (SDPZ) covers a 6.4-square-mile targeted area that spans East Village and Barrio Logan east to Encanto and is home to the City’s most disadvantaged and underserved communities.

More than 80,000 San Diegans live in SDPZ. Unemployment is high (15.61 percent), and poverty is concentrated (39.06 percent). The area struggles with low educational attainment, insufficient access to healthcare and healthy foods, rising crime rates and the least affordable housing in the country.

Through the Promise Zone initiative, federal government partners work with local leaders to streamline resources across agencies and deliver comprehensive support. Leading the effort, the City has partnered with numerous local organizations and agencies to develop programs and initiatives in six Working Group goal areas to improve quality of life and accelerate revitalization in the SDPZ.

The Promise Zone designation lasts for 10 years. The goals can be reviewed in the SDPZ Ten Year Strategic Plan

For more information about the SDPZ, contact us:

Sean Karafin, Neighborhood Investment Manager, City of San Diego Economic Development Department, 619-236-6493
Alex Southard, SDPZ Coordinator, City of San Diego Economic Development Department, 619-236-6302
Connor Lareau, AmeriCorps VISTA, City of San Diego Economic Development Department, 619-236-6418
Kelsey Baird, AmeriCorps VISTA, City of San Diego Economic Development Department, 619-235-5801

Promise Zone Community Resource and All-Partner Meeting

The following resources were shared by presenters at the Promise Zone Community Resource meeting held virtually on April 23, 2020.

Funding Opportunities for Promise Zone Partners

Updated 04/22/2020