The Agency's economic development programs are focused on Redevelopment project and survey areas. This work is organized into four major categories:
Economic Development Analysis and Programming to create economic plans, information and strategies to aid in the implementation of approved redevelopment project area plans and to assist in the development of economically viable redevelopment plans for neighborhoods currently designated as redevelopment survey areas.
Neighborhood Economic Development to assist the Agency in the achievement of economic development objectives for redevelopment project and survey areas, and other neighborhoods, as requested. These activities include managing contracts with community based organizations that provide direct business assistance, employment development, and entrepreneurial training services to project area businesses and residents.
Business Development to create employment opportunities in project and survey areas and to expand the tax base in these neighborhoods. This function includes participation in initiatives to assist major employers maintain and expand San Francisco operations, as well as business assistance and attraction activities in project and survey areas. Grant applications and collaborations with other City departments, agencies and private foundations to assist in providing new sources of funds for the implementation of redevelopment plans.
Current Activities
Economic Development Analysis and Programming
Work with Agency staff to create economic development action plans for redevelopment survey areas and to update plans for project areas.
Ongoing analyses of neighborhood economic conditions to develop information and data to guide development of neighborhood economic development plans and the implementation of neighborhood economic development programs.
Work with business interests in redevelopment areas to strengthen their economic base and provide mechanisms to maintain visibility of the areas as redevelopment completes its programs in these communities.
Analyze target industries to identify opportunities for project development.
Workforce Development Program - Job Readiness Initiative
The Agency’s Job Readiness Initiative (JRI) is a 3-year workforce development program that aims to prepare 1,000 project area jobseekers for vocational training and employment.
The JRI is divided into two regions:
For the 2010 – 2011 funding cycle, JRI is funding a total of 6 community-based organizations (CBOs) during the initial 18-month period of the program:
Below are progress reports for the first 12 months of the JRI. The data included in the reports is sourced from the Agency’s data tracking and reporting system, Elation Systems, and entered by each contracted CBO.
JRI Northeast 12-month progress report
JRI Southeast 12-month progress report
JRI Goodwill 12-month progress report
JRI Hunters Point Family 12-month progress report
JRI San Francisco Conservation Corps 12-month progress report
JRI Young Community Developers 12-month progress report
Neighborhood Economic Development
Redevelopment Project Area Small Business Development Programs:
The Agency contracts with two community based organizations (CBOs) -- South of Market Foundation- dba: Urban Solutions and San Francisco Renaissance -- to provide technical assistance and loan packaging services to businesses located in the India Basin, South of Market, and Western Addition A2 redevelopment project areas to help existing businesses improve profitability, expand operations, and employ low/moderate income project area residents and to provide interested area residents with entrepreneurship training.
Redevelopment Project Area Employment Development Programs:
The Agency contracts with three CBOs (Ella Hill Hutch Community Center, Mission Hiring Hall's South of Market Employment Center, and Young Community Developers) to provide employment development services to help low/moderate income project area residents secure permanent full-time employment, and with SF Renaissance to provide entrepreneurial training to project area residents who seek self-employment.
Business Development
Promote the Growth of the City's Target Industries:
Working with the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, the San Francisco Partnership, industry organizations and coalitions of industry participants to promote the growth and development of the City's target industries in redevelopment areas.
Implement Business Attraction & Retention Activities:
In cooperation with the business community, the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, commercial real estate firms and the San Francisco Partnership, help specific firms maintain, expand or locate in San Francisco's redevelopment areas.
