Dashboard

The San Diego Promise Zone brings together residents, businesses, nonprofits, and governments of all sizes to build up communities. We support Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Southeastern, and Encanto as vibrant, thriving neighborhoods by accomplishing the following:

Are you in the Zone?

Over 77,000 San Diegans live in the 6.4 square miles of the Promise Zone. With 15.61% unemployment and low educational attainment, this area faces unique challenges, but is also home to many opportunities! Learn more about why we were chosen as a Promise Zone and our history here. (link to history page)

Get Involved

• Sign up for our newsletter to hear about great opportunities. View our most recent. (link to most recent)
• Attend a Promise Zone meeting or event (link to calendar)
• Check out our success stories. (link to blog)
• Are you a nonprofit or business? Find out more about becoming an official partner! (link to partner page)

Improving Educational Opportunities

Goals

• Increase the number of students meeting school readiness and grade level expectations
• Increase the number of college/career readiness programs for middle school children
• Increase educational and career supports for Opportunity Youth (disconnected youth 16-24)
• Increase the number of adults who are educated and prepared for middle wage jobs

Current Priority Projects

Promise Zone partners are currently helping to expand San Diego Unified’s online platform to include job placement opportunities and nontraditional schooling programs.

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Second Wednesday of each month at Jacobs Center for neighborhood Innovation
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Sandra Ainslie and Sara Boquin (Barrio Logan College Institute)
• Check out our metrics

Increasing Economic Activity

Goals

• Strengthen the business base and attract new businesses to vacant land
• Make infrastructure improvements and address disparities
• Support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and self-employed residents

 

Current Priority Projects

• Partners are pursuing new financing options for businesses in the Promise Zone to participate in the City’s Storefront Improvement Program. Promise Zone businesses are also eligible for a higher percentage refund of their project costs from program.

 

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Second Wednesday of each month at Jacobs Center for neighborhood Innovation
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Christina Bibler (City of San Diego) and Gary Knight (San Diego Futures Foundation)
• Check out our metrics

Increasing Access to Affordable Housing

Goals

• Create new, ecofriendly, affordable and mixed income residential units along transit corridors
• Preserve existing affordable housing in the San Diego Promise Zone through capital improvement projects
• Administer loans, grants and other mechanisms to help households with low to moderate incomes become first-time homebuyers

Current Priority Projects

• Partners are planning a pilot program to assist Promise Zone homeowners in adding accessory dwelling units to their homes. The City recently passed legislation to make building these units easier, with special consideration being given to the Promise Zone.

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Second Thursday of each month at San Diego Housing Commission
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Daisy Crompton (San Diego Housing Commission) and Jeff Zinner (Civic San Diego)
• Check out our metrics

Creating a Priority of Safety

Goals

• Use technology & community events to engage residents, businesses, and schools in their own safety
• Advocate for infrastructure improvements that deter crime and improve the quality of community amenities

Current Priority Projects

• Partners will assist in educating Promise Zone residents about the City’s Get It Done app after its relaunch Fall 2018. Getting residents involved in caring for their neighborhood is a great way to increase engagement, while making for more walkable communities.

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Third Tuesday of each month at Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Mary Baum (SAY San Diego) and Rosa Ana Lozada (Harmonium)
• Check out our metrics

Creating Jobs

Goals

• Connect Opportunity Youth (disconnected youth aged 16-24) to employment
• Increase the number of residents employed in middle skills jobs in growing industry
• Identify opportunities with employer institutions and champion model policies that encourage equitable practices

Current Priority Projects

• The workgroup is currently focused on connecting Opportunity Youth to careers in the advanced manufacturing and information/communications technology industries, through linking service providers to educational opportunities to employers.

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Third Wednesday of each month at San Diego Workforce Partnership
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Lydia Morena (City of San Diego) and Karmin Noar (San Diego Workforce Partnership)
• Check out our metrics

Increasing Access to Healthcare and Healthy Foods

Goals

• Build resident capacity and leadership through the creation of healthy foods choices & an accessible food system
• Champion practices and policies that promote a healthy food system
• Improve residents’ health through access to healthcare insurance, access to healthcare services, including mental health, access to appropriate care, and support a continuum of care

Current Priority Projects

• Partners will begin outreach to land owners to participate in Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones, allowing their vacant land to be used to increase the supply of healthy, local produce.

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Third Thursday of each month at Family Health Centers HITEC
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Tina Emmerick (County of San Diego HHSA) and Anthony White (Family Health Centers of San Diego)
• Check out our metrics