Promise Zone

The Promise Zone designation partners the Federal government with local leaders who are addressing multiple community revitalization challenges in a collaborative way. 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. The program was administered by The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) There were three application cycles for Promise Zone designations (2014, 2015, 2016) with a total of 22 designated urban, rural and tribal Promise Zone communities across the country. The City of Tallahassee submitted an application for Promise Zone designation in all three application cycles (2014, 2015 and 2016). All three City applications included a Memorandum of Understanding between Leon County and the City of Tallahassee in seeking the Federal Promise Zone designation. The Tallahassee/Leon County Promise Zone boundaries were developed jointly by City and County staff and approved by both the City and County Commissions. The same Promise Zone boundary was included in all three application cycles. Promise Zone designation are given preference when applying for specified federal grants to support affordable housing, education, public safety and economic development. An eligible Promise Zone must have a minimum population of 10,000 and cannot exceed 200,000. The proposed Zone must have a minimum poverty rate of 33% and should exhibit high unemployment, high rates of residential vacancies and high rates of crime relative to the larger community.