City of San Diego and California Coast Credit Union Award $109,000 in Grants to Nonprofits
Aiming to increase economic opportunities, improve healthy living and access to education, the City of San Diego and California Coast Credit Union, the City’s official financial partner, have selected 11 nonprofit organizations to receive $109,000 in grants. Grantees will receive financial assistance ranging from $9,000 to $10,000.
These grants are part of the San Diego Promise Zone Community Partner Growth Fund program, a multi-year partnership with Cal Coast to enhance community development, capacity building and workforce development.
The federally designated Promise Zone covers a 6.4-square-mile targeted area that spans from East Village and Barrio Logan east to Southeastern and Encanto. It is home to the City’s most culturally rich and ethnically diverse neighborhoods and some of its most under-resourced communities. Since the Promise Zone designation in 2016, the City and more than 80 organizations have worked together to find ways to create more job and education opportunities, generate economic activity, expand housing affordability and improve the health and the quality of life for San Diegans in the Promise Zone.
Eleven of those organizations will receive funding within the next few months that will go toward projects that provide specialized community and social outreach services and support their work to assist individuals experiencing barriers to post-secondary education and employment. Funds will also go toward projects that will help each organization’s development, resilience and sustainability to better serve Promise Zone communities.
“Through targeted efforts and collaboration, the City and its partners have worked hard to create better lives for San Diegans living in the Promise Zone,” said Economic Development Director Christina Bibler. “We are proud to choose these partners who share our commitment to the Promise Zone’s vision – creating a clear pathway from promise to prosperity. These grants will help them continue turning that vision into real progress for our communities.”
This year’s grant recipients were chosen for their experience in serving Promise Zone residents, the critical need that the proposed projects will address and the project’s overall alignment with Promise Zone goals. The selected groups are:
Accessity, Microlending Program – San Diego Promise Zone - $10,000
Black Tech Link, Geographic Information Systems Training Program - $10,000
Classics 4 Kids, Equitable Access to Music Education in the San Diego Promise Zone - $10,000
Computers 2 Kids, TECH UP - $10,000
In Good Company, Carbon Literacy in San Diego's Promise Zone - $10,000
Mission Edge, Impact Lab: Community Outreach in the Promise Zone - $10,000
Monarch School Project, Equitable Education and Career Readiness for Unhoused Youth, $10,000
Travelers Aid Society of San Diego, Senior Solutions - $10,000
Urban Collaborative Project, 5th Annual Transportation Justice Expo & Green Corridor Holiday Event - $10,000
United Way of San Diego County, STEAM-to-Career - $10,000
Workshops for Warriors, Inc., Promise Zone Recruitment Efforts for Advanced Manufacturing
Program for Youth - $9,000
“California Coast Credit Union is honored to continue our partnership with the City of San Diego in supporting the Promise Zone Community Partner Growth Fund,” said California Coast Credit Union President and CEO Todd M. Lane. “These grants represent a strategic investment in organizations that are driving meaningful change—expanding access to education, economic opportunity, and community well-being. We remain deeply committed to fostering financial inclusion and helping build a more resilient and equitable San Diego.”
“Thanks to this award, we can bring the Carbon Literacy certification directly to our neighbors in the Promise Zone,” said In Good Company Executive Director and Founder Adrienne Fusek. “The award will directly benefit residents through outreach and full scholarships. Through the globally-recognized Carbon Literacy training, Promise Zone residents will build knowledge in climate change and leverage that knowledge to take meaningful action for a healthier, more sustainable San Diego."
“We’re proud to support Mayor Gloria’s vision of expanding opportunities for San Diegans,” said Hernán Luis y Prado, Workshops for Warriors (WFW) founder and CEO. “This grant increases our ability to train, certify, and place veterans and hardworking San Diegans into dignified lifelong careers while rebuilding America’s manufacturing force. WFW has almost two decades of investment, training, housing our neighbors, and job creation in Barrio Logan. We are grateful to the City of San Diego, Mayor Gloria, and Councilmember Vivian Moreno for their steadfast support. Additional funding would allow us to train up to 7,500 San Diegans a year into advance manufacturing careers that strengthen our nation and average $63,000 per year.”
“This generous workforce development grant from California Coastal Credit Union is more than funding—it’s a powerful partnership,” said Monarch School Project President and CEO Afira DeVries. “Together, we’re equipping unhoused K-12 students with the life skills and support they need to build pathways to college and career. Alongside other grassroots organizations in the San Diego Promise Zone, we’re working to ensure every youth has the opportunity to thrive, no matter their circumstances.”
This is the third round of grants the City and Cal Coast Credit Union have awarded to Promise Zone partners.
About California Coast Credit Union
Established by San Diego teachers in 1929, California Coast Credit Union is the longest-serving financial institution based in San Diego County. With more than $3 billion in assets, the credit union serves nearly 200,000 members through its local network of 27 branches and 60 shared branch locations, and 30,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide. California Coast is not-for-profit, provides no-cost financial education for adults and youth, and is committed to improving the lives of its members and others in the community. Anyone who lives or works in San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, or Imperial counties can be a member. For more information, visit www.calcoastcu.org or call (877) 495-1600.