Community development: California Promise Neighborhoods Initiative.

Existing law provides for various community development programs in the state. Executive Order S-05-10 created the Office of Economic Development in the Governor's office, for the purpose of coordinating economic development activities in the state. This bill would establish the California Promise Neighborhoods Initiative in the Office of Economic Development. It would require the office to establish 40 promise neighborhoods throughout the state, according to specified criteria, to maximize collective efforts within a community to improve the health, safety, education, and economic development of each neighborhood. It would require the office to use existing state resources and federal funds to implement these provisions, and authorize the office to accept financial support from other public or private sources for these purposes. It would require cities, counties, and school districts electing to participate in the initiative to provide the office with specified information. This bill would direct the Office of Economic Development to work with the California Health and Human Services Agency and counties to establish participation goals for specified programs, and it would also direct the office to explore methods for increasing participation rates. The bill would give cities, counties, schools, and school districts located in a promise neighborhood priority consideration for certain programs, grants, and funding.