Part of the City of Sacramento is one of eight new "Promise Zones" created by the Obama Administration.
The "Promise Zone" designation gives Sacramento its own liaison to help local public/private partnerships apply for federal funds.
Ophelia Basgal (bass GAL) is a HUD Regional Administrator. She says the designation will also make it easier for Sacramento to secure federal grants.
"Points are assigned for the various factors in the application, whatever it might be. When you're a Promise Zone you get additional points."
Sacramento could also have the services of as many as five Americorps volunteers. They would assist programs designed to improve education, create jobs, and improve community health.
The City's zone encompasses about a quarter of the population and includes Del Paso, downtown, and the Fruitridge areas.
The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency says it tried to include a portion of South Sacramento's District 8 in the zone, but was unable to.
A Promise Zone must be contiguous and a band of relative economic prosperity separates District 8 from the rest of the City.
This is the second wave of “Promise Zone” cities. HUD says high school graduation rates in the San Antonio district improved from 45 percent to 80 percent. Hud also says safe drinking water will be available for the first time to about 700 households in a rural section of Oklahoma previously selected for a promise zone.
Sacramento Promise Zone
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