Economic Development
Building networks that support early-stage entrepreneurs and accelerate existing neighborhood businesses through training and mentorships, connections to regional partnerships, job opportunities and increased access to financial resources.
In 1988, the Jacobs Family set up the Jacobs Family Foundation after Joe Jacobs company, Jacobs Engineering Group went public. The intention of the foundation was to give all the foundations assets within the children’s lifetime.
Over time, as grants continued to be given, the family noticed giving grants was not providing a significant impact. The family decided to fund smaller, grassroots organizations but then soon realized these organizations struggled with the management side of their operations. With that the organization began to offer technical assistance directly to the grantees. With this shift, the family decided in 1995 to create Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (JCNI) as a structured operating foundation. This provided greater flexibility to support communities through direct services and programs and later works with residents to develop property.
Although, grants and technical assistance was given that alone did not help neighborhoods work. Loans and grants can’t revitalize a neighborhood when robbery and theft is happening right outside the doors. With this new approach the family decided to look at microscopic geography and focus on a limited neighborhood and with that moving the offices into the same neighborhood.
JCNI decided to move into the Diamond Neighborhoods of southeastern San Diego, made up of the ten most culturally diverse communities in San Diego.
THE JACOBS CENTER’S MEDIA SPACE
Jacobs Center’s media space, opened in May 2023. It is currently not available for use.
THE JACOBS CENTER’S BUSINESS ACCELERATOR
The Jacobs Center’s Business Accelerator program (formerly CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center) is the region’s first low to moderate-income and diversity-focused business accelerator program, guiding startups that want to grow rapidly with all the support they need to be successful. A partnership between the City of San Diego, CONNECT w/ San Diego Venture Group, and the Jacobs Center, the Business Accelerator was founded to provide participants with mentors, free co-working space, and guidance on how to scale their businesses.
In the course of 6 years, the Accelerator Program and Business Resource Center helped hundreds of entrepreneurs. See All Time Program Highlights and Demographic Data.
ALL TIME PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

INCOME DATA

TESTIMONIALS
OUR COHORTS
Each Cohort in San Diego’s only business accelerator program focused on low-to-moderate income and diverse founders, begins their journey with a ribbon cutting welcome and wrapped up with Entrepreneur Pitch Day, presented by Union Bank, which awarded five business grants to the pitch competition’s winners. To learn more about these thriving San Diego businesses, visit the websites below.
Learn more about each participant by clicking on their images below.

Ronaldo Berring

Sheena Shelton

Cecily Coleman

Celeste Martinez De Luna

Elisa Summiel-Bay

Miguel Tilis

TJ Harris

Kitty Harris

Graciela Cervantes

William Marrs

Bee Alvarado

Erika Rodriguez

Candice Miles

Litisha Franklin

Jennifer & Jocelyn Miranda
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The San Diego Promise Zone (SDPZ) is a geographic area comprising three City of San Diego Community Plan Areas: Barrio Logan, Southeastern, and Encanto Neighborhoods. Historically disadvantaged and suffering from a lack of economic investment, these SDPZ neighborhoods have long been characterized by their relatively high unemployment, high poverty, and low educational attainment rates. With a higher share of minorities and immigrants, the culturally-rich communities within the SDPZ also possess
unique barriers to economic growth.
Read the report “San Diego Small Business Lending Collaborative Equitable Development Plan for the San Diego Promise Zone (pdf).“
STAY UP-TO-DATE
To learn more or get involved, contact the program staff at economicdevelopment@jacobscenter.org
Together, we’re able to make an impact in and around the Southeastern San Diego community, thanks to the generosity, support and dedication of our partners.
Let’s stay connected – we’d love to send you updates on new projects, happenings, ways to pay it forward, community events and resources.