On December 18, 2015, the federal government announced the third round of availability of competive Promise Zone grants.  Promise Zone grants were originated by the Obama Administration and were introduced with a White House press ceremony.

    The grants do not offer upfront monetary assistance, but they open the door to opportunities of acquiring strategic federal technical assistance and federal grants.

    With the assistance of the U.S. Department of Argiculture, the community of Newberry Springs was made aware of Promise Zone grants through Holly Shiralipour, USDA representative who has worked on the Baja Subarea water conservation issues.  Through her volunteer assistance, leading citizens within Newberry Springs organized the Newberry Springs Economic Development Association (NSEDA) to explore the Promise Zone grants and other economic opportunities.

    Promise Zones involve selected high poverty communities where the federal government will partner and assist urban, rural, and tribal communities to create jobs, increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, leverage private investment, and reduce violent crime.

    This is now the third round that the door has been opened for Promise Zone applications.  During the first two rounds, a total of 9 urban Promise Zones were established and 14 rural and tribal Promise Zones.

    According to a HUD website (link on bottom of page):

    Promise Zones are high poverty communities where the federal government partners with local leaders to increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, leverage private investment, reduce violent crime, enhance public health and address other priorities identified by the community.  Through the Promise Zone designation, communities will work directly with federal, state and local agencies to give local leaders proven tools to improve the quality of life in some of the country's most vulnerable areas.

    Urban, rural, and tribal communities nationwide are invited to put forward plans to address multiple community revitalization challenges in a collaborative way.  Communities that are designated will also demonstrate strong capacity to implement, accountability to clear goals, and a commitment to results.

    Any community meeting the eligibility criteria can apply for a designation.  HUD and USDA will designate seven Promise Zones across urban, rural and tribal communities for the final round.  The deadline for submitting Promise Zone applications is Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 5:00 PM EST.  Announcements will be made in the Spring of 2016.

    All Promise Zones will receive priority access to federal investments that further their strategic plans, federal staff on the ground to help them implement their goals, and five full-time AmeriCorps VISTA members to recruit and manage volunteers and strengthen the capacity of the Promise Zone initiatives.

    NSEDA is currently working with the community of Hinkley, City of Barstow, community of Lucerne Valley, City of Needles, and the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation as potential or existing partners.  Smaller communities within the zone will enjoy the benefits available to the partnering communities.  Working with NSEDA is also the USDA Victorville, California office and the Desert Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council located in Ridgecrest, California.

    NSEDA looks forward to the acceptance of its application by federal officials and strives for a strong collaborative partnership in serving a rural zone of critical need.