Nine local nonprofits are getting a financial boost to support their work in San Diego neighborhoods. Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe and Councilmember Vivian Moreno joined California Coast Credit Union (Cal Coast) President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Lane to provide critically needed funding to organizations serving residents within the San Diego Promise Zone and other under-invested communities.  

A $13,650 check was presented to Project New Village at the Mount Hope Community Garden, which was established by the nonprofit to provide a community gathering space for residents to practice sustainable agriculture.  

"San Diego has too many proud, hardworking neighborhoods that have been disinvested in and made to wait for things every community expects and deserves. We must act now to right those wrongs," said Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. "This grant will help build an agricultural space in Mount Hope, but it is also an investment in the people who live here, their education, their health and future opportunities, and I look forward to more of these funds coming to Promise Zones in the years to come." 

Project New Village is one of nine nonprofits receiving a total of $120,000 in microgrants from Cal Coast. The funding will be used to expand the capacity of these organizations to help improve the quality of life in Promise Zone communities and other areas in the City in need of additional resources. Funding was awarded based on the nonprofit organizations’ experience in serving disadvantaged neighborhoods, the need for the proposed service in the community and the ability to improve the lives of underserved residents. 

Serving as the City’s financial partner, Cal Coast has also made a financial commitment to the Promise Zone for the remainder of its 10-year designation. The City’s official financial partner will continue to invest in the wealth of potential found in Promise Zone businesses and organizations that serve its residents.

“I’m very proud of the collaboration between California Coast and the San Diego Promise Zones in their commitment to improving the quality of life for historically under-resourced communities,” said Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe. “These grants provide an opportunity for each of the recognized nonprofits to continue their valuable work in revitalizing our community."

Additional awardees of Cal Coast funding are: 

San Diego Habitat for Humanity - $17,100. 

Depositing Empowerment Through Outreach & Urban Redevelopment (D.E.T.O.U.R.) - $14,000. 

Leah’s Pantry - $14,000. 

Outdoor Outreach - $14,000. 

Project New Village - $13,650. 

San Diego Parks Foundation - $13,300. 

San Diego Futures Foundation - $12,000. 

San Diego Co-Harvest Foundation - $10,500. 

Logan Heights Community Development Corporation - $10,500. 

“Cal Coast Credit Union is deeply committed to our partnership with the City of San Diego and supporting the people and businesses in the Promise Zone,” said Todd Lane, president and CEO of Cal Coast Credit Union. “We are proud to contribute funding to micro grant awardees to further their efforts in addressing the underserved within their communities. We also look forward to continuing our engagement in the Promise Zone by supporting their financial service needs and in making a positive impact in our region.” 

As the backbone organization of the San Diego Promise Zone, the City of San Diego fosters partnerships with community-serving organizations, government agencies, and philanthropic, corporate and educational institutions under a collective impact framework to provide comprehensive support to over 80,000 residents living in the culturally vibrant neighborhoods of Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Southeastern, Encanto, and East Village. For more information about the City’s Promise Zone Program, please visit sandiego.gov/economic-development/sdpromisezone. 

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 26 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 or Riverside counties can be a member. For more information, visit www.calcoastcu.org or call 877-495-1600.