Civic San Diego
Civic San Diego is a nonprofit public benefit corporation created by the City of San Diego that administers New Markets Tax Credit allocations, affordable housing financing, planning and permitting, public works delivery, and community lending programs for downtown San Diego and underserved neighborhoods.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Civic San Diego does
Civic San Diego is a nonprofit public benefit corporation established in 2012 by the City of San Diego City Council, formed through the reorganization of the former Centre City Development Corp. and Southeastern Economic Development Corp. following the statewide dissolution of California redevelopment agencies. The organization operates as a city-chartered economic development and planning entity serving downtown San Diego and designated underserved neighborhoods (City Heights, Mountain View, Southeast San Diego, Encanto, San Ysidro, Normal Heights). Its portfolio spans planning and permitting review, disposition and development agreement negotiation, public works project delivery (parks, fire stations, streetscapes), real estate asset management, community parking district operations, affordable housing financing, and community lending programs.
Core programs are delivered through the Civic San Diego Economic Growth and Neighborhood Investment Fund, a wholly-owned nonprofit subsidiary certified as a Community Development Entity by the U.S. Department of the Treasury CDFI Fund. The Growth Fund has received four New Markets Tax Credit allocations totaling $133 million, of which approximately $78 million has been deployed across five transformative projects (Copley-Price Family YMCA, Family Health Centers of San Diego, Urban Corps of San Diego County, Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, and Momentum Learning/37ECB). A Smart Growth Fund of $30–50 million is being established to invest private capital in urban infill and mixed-income residential projects. Major developer counterparties include BRIDGE Housing, Wakeland Housing, Chelsea Investment, Holland Partner Group, and Pinnacle International, with financial partnerships anchored by U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation (over $70M in NMTC co-investment) and Wells Fargo.
Civic San Diego does not operate as a traditional revenue-generating business. Its economics are driven by city service contracts, disposition proceeds redeployed into affordable housing, management fees on the Smart Growth Fund, and pass-through federal NMTC capital deployment. A March 2019 settlement agreement with the City of San Diego re-scoped the organization to focus on NMTC and community lending, expand housing initiatives, and assist the City in wind-down of redevelopment, signaling a narrower forward mandate relative to its earlier planning-and-permitting footprint.
Civic San Diego firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Civic San Diego
- Legal name
- Civic San Diego
- Website
- https://civicsd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Civic San Diego is a nonprofit public benefit corporation created by the City of San Diego that administers New Markets Tax Credit allocations, affordable housing financing, planning and permitting, public works delivery, and community lending programs for downtown San Diego and underserved neighborhoods.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Civic San Diego industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD), Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)
Keywords
Where Civic San Diego is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Civic San Diego business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Community Development Financial Programs: Civic San Diego operates as a nonprofit that manages public funds and tax credit programs including New Markets Tax Credits, affordable housing financing, and urban greening grants. The organization facilitates development projects but is not a traditional revenue-generating entity.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Civic San Diego product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Civic San Diego is a city-created nonprofit public benefit corporation that delivers urban economic development, planning and permitting, affordable housing financing, and public works services for downtown San Diego and underserved communities. Its core activities include deploying federal New Markets Tax Credit allocations through its Community Development Entity subsidiary, providing affordable housing development loans, managing downtown parking assets, administering community lending programs (including small business and homeowner loans), and delivering public infrastructure projects on behalf of the City of San Diego.
Product overview
Civic San Diego is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation created by the City of San Diego to engage in economic development, land use permitting and services, and project management services. The organization operates as a city-owned nonprofit offering a portfolio of community development programs including the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program through its Economic Growth and Neighborhood Investment Fund (a certified Community Development Entity), Affordable Housing Programs, Real Estate Management, Public Works infrastructure development, Community Parking District management, Community Lending Programs, and the Smart Growth Fund ($30-50M private capital equity fund). These programs work together to revitalize downtown San Diego and underserved communities through affordable housing development, small business lending, public parks and infrastructure, and economic growth initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program Federal tax credit program administered through Civic San Diego's certified Community Development Entity that deploys flexible-rate loans into high-impact community development projects in low-income neighborhoods. The program has received four NMTC allocations totaling $133 million, with nearly $78 million deployed across five transformative projects including Copley-Price Family YMCA, Family Health Centers, Urban Corps of San Diego County, Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, and Momentum Learning. Targeted at nonprofit community organizations and mission-driven developers.
- Affordable Housing Programs Comprehensive affordable housing initiatives providing development loans, gap financing, and program support for affordable rental apartments and homeownership programs serving low- and middle-income residents in San Diego. The programs have facilitated development of over 4,500 affordable housing units through partnerships with developers including BRIDGE Housing, Wakeland Housing and Development, and Chelsea Investment Corp.
- Civic San Diego Economic Growth and Neighborhood Investment Fund Wholly-owned nonprofit subsidiary of Civic San Diego, certified as a Community Development Entity (CDE), that manages New Markets Tax Credit allocations and Qualifying Low-Income Community Investments to revitalize San Diego's underserved neighborhoods.
- Real Estate Management Real estate development and asset deployment services including economic growth, affordable housing, commercial development, public improvements, and alignment with City initiatives such as the Climate Action Plan and historic preservation. Manages City-owned real estate assets and negotiates disposition and development agreements with private developers.
- Public Works Engineering and infrastructure delivery services including design, construction management, and program management for public infrastructure and facilities such as parks (e.g., Southcrest Trails Neighborhood Park), fire stations, streetscape improvements, and pedestrian/bicycle-friendly environments, delivered on behalf of the City of San Diego.
- Community Parking District Management of the Downtown Community Parking District, including CivicSD-managed parking garages serving downtown San Diego.
- Community Lending Programs Access-to-capital programs providing loan funding to small businesses and community development projects, including the Homeowner Enhancement Loan Program. Supports businesses such as Heart and Trotter Butcher Shop with financing, jobs, and revenue growth.
- Smart Growth Fund
Quantifiable outcome
- 4,500+ affordable housing units facilitated
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Civic San Diego
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Civic San Diego technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Civic San Diego partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- YMCA of San Diego CountycoreRecipient of Civic San Diego's Civic Leader Award for ongoing support of NMTC program. YMCA has worked with CivicSD's Economic Growth and Neighborhood Investment Fund twice through NMTC financing to build two YMCA facilities: Copley-Price Family YMCA in City Heights and Jackie Robinson Family YMCA in Southeastern San Diego.
- Casa FamiliarcoreNonprofit recipient of Project Impact Award for 'Living Rooms at the Border' project financed with $9.3 million in New Markets Tax Credits. The project at 114 West Hall Avenue in San Ysidro includes affordable housing, social services, youth training program, and community spaces. CivicSD Board Chair Carlos Vazquez highlighted Casa Familiar as an integral part of beneficial projects in San Ysidro.
- Wakeland Housing and Development CorporationmajorDeveloper partner for Atmosphere project, a 205-unit affordable housing development that won 2018 Project of the Year at Ruby Awards. The project serves households earning less than 60% of Area Median Income and includes 51 permanent supportive units for families at-risk of homelessness.
- Holland Partner GroupmajorDeveloper partner for Park & Market project, a transformative 34-story mixed-use, mixed-income full-block development in East Village. Project includes 426 residences (85 very low-income affordable), a four-story office building for UC San Diego, approximately 22,000 square feet of retail, and public open space. Property sold for $12.3 million.
- BRIDGE Housing CorporationmajorDeveloper partner for Celadon at 9th & Broadway, a 250-unit affordable housing project in East Village that won 2016 Project of the Year at Ruby Awards. Civic San Diego provided $21.8 million loan to finance the project, developed with ground floor retail and services for a multigenerational population.
- Family Health Centers of San DiegocoreNMTC program recipient for Health Information Technology Education and Career Center in Oak Park. Project provides living wage jobs to 100% of full-time employees, training curriculum in health information technology, and quality healthcare to more than 1,000 low-income and medically underserved persons annually.
- Urban Corps of San Diego CountycoreNMTC program recipient providing workforce development, education, and support services to help economically marginalized young adults overcome barriers to success. Includes on-site charter school that annually offers approximately 200 low-income youth a second chance to earn their high school diplomas.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreFederal agency that designated San Diego as a Promise Zone, providing priority access to federal investments, federal staff on the ground, and five full-time AmeriCorps VISTA members to help implement goals for three of the City's most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
- City of San DiegocoreCity government partner that created Civic San Diego as a nonprofit public benefit corporation to engage in economic development, land use permitting, and project management services. City Council approved 5-Year Term Operating and Agency Agreement in October 2016.
- Chelsea Investment Corp.majorDeveloper partner for Ouchi Courtyards at 5003 Imperial Avenue, a 45-unit affordable family housing project in Lincoln Park neighborhood of Encanto. Civic San Diego provided $5.4 million loan as part of $20.4 million total project cost. Project nominated for 2018 Project of the Year at Ruby Awards.
- Pinnacle InternationalmajorDeveloper partner for Pinnacle On The Park project including Fault Line Park (1.3-acre public park, first new city park downtown since 2008) and development of 956 homes including 72 affordable units and 22,000 square feet of commercial/retail space. Partnership developed through unique public-private arrangement.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Civic San Diego competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC is one of the largest national CDFIs providing financing and capacity-building for affordable housing, economic development, and community revitalization. It deploys NMTC allocations and operates similar community lending programs across many U.S. cities, mirroring Civic San Diego's combined planning, lending, and developer-support role.
- Enterprise Community Partners: Enterprise Community Partners is a national nonprofit that deploys debt, equity, and tax credit capital (including NMTC) for affordable housing and community development. It is highly comparable as a mission-aligned CDFI-style organization working with developers like BRIDGE and Wakeland on the same project types CivicSD finances.
- Capital Impact Partners: Capital Impact Partners is a CDFI that provides loans, NMTC, and capacity-building to underserved communities for housing, health, and economic development. It is comparable to CivicSD as a CDFI deploying federal NMTC allocations into community facilities and affordable housing in California.
- Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF): LIIF is a CDFI focused on California's low-income communities, providing financing for affordable housing, child care, and community facilities. It is closely comparable as a California-rooted CDFI deploying NMTC and other capital into community development projects similar to CivicSD's portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- NYC Economic Development Corporation: NYC EDC is a city-created nonprofit that plans and facilitates economic development, real estate, and community investment across NYC neighborhoods. It is comparable as a much larger municipal economic development corporation that combines planning, permitting, real estate, and capital deployment functions.
Regional players
- San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development: San Francisco OEWD administers affordable housing financing, workforce development, and community development programs. It is comparable as a California municipal entity managing public land, NMTC, and affordable housing funds similar to CivicSD's portfolio.
- LA Economic and Workforce Development Department: LA's EWDD administers federal workforce, community development block grants, and economic development programs. It is comparable as a California public entity managing federal and local community development funding streams that overlap with CivicSD's programs.
Emerging players
- BRIDGE Housing Corporation: BRIDGE Housing is a major California nonprofit affordable housing developer. It is comparable as a key counterparty / customer of CivicSD (Celadon project) and operates in the same affordable housing finance ecosystem, though its role as a developer differs from CivicSD's role as a capital provider.
- Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation: Wakeland is a San Diego-based nonprofit affordable housing developer that received CivicSD financing for the Atmosphere project. It is comparable as a regional affordable housing developer operating in the same San Diego pipeline CivicSD finances.
Others
- The San Diego Foundation: The San Diego Foundation is the region's largest community foundation, deploying philanthropic capital for affordable housing and community development in San Diego. It is comparable as a local mission-aligned capital intermediary, although it operates via philanthropic grants rather than tax credit and loan programs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Civic San Diego social profiles
Digital presenceCivic San Diego financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Civic San Diego leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Civic San Diego subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Civic San Diego funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Civic San Diego M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Civic San Diego
What does Civic San Diego do?
Civic San Diego is a city-created nonprofit public benefit corporation that delivers urban economic development, planning and permitting, affordable housing financing, and public works services for downtown San Diego and underserved communities. Its core activities include deploying federal New Markets Tax Credit allocations through its Community Development Entity subsidiary, providing affordable housing development loans, managing downtown parking assets, administering community lending programs (including small business and homeowner loans), and delivering public infrastructure projects on behalf of the City of San Diego.
Is Civic San Diego a public or private company?
Civic San Diego is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Civic San Diego founded?
Civic San Diego was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Civic San Diego based?
Civic San Diego is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Civic San Diego make money?
One revenue line is on record: community Development Financial Programs.
Who are Civic San Diego's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Enterprise Community Partners, Capital Impact Partners and Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF). NYC Economic Development Corporation is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development and LA Economic and Workforce Development Department. Emerging players are BRIDGE Housing Corporation and Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation. The San Diego Foundation is listed as an others.
Does Civic San Diego have an API?
No public API is recorded for Civic San Diego.
What industry is Civic San Diego in?
Civic San Diego's product category is Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAJ, Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities), with a secondary code of BPADAGAD, Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space. Its NAICS code is 9251 and its SIC code is 8300.