In October 2019, the winners of CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center’s Entrepreneur Pitch Day, presented by Union Bank, celebrate with MUFG Union Bank Foundation Vice President JR Raines and Union Bank Regional President for San Diego Isai Amaya (far right).
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the 2020 winners of the Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships, including the MUFG Union Bank Foundation for its partnership with CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center, the San Diego region’s only business accelerator program focused on low- to moderate-income and diverse founders.
Union Bank and CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center are one of only seven recipients nationwide and the only awardee from San Diego. Project details below.
CAJC is a strategic partnership between the City of San Diego, Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation and CONNECT w/ San Diego Venture Group. This program is funded in whole or in part with Community Development Block Grant program funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the City of San Diego. Private funding is also provided by partners MUFG Union Bank N.A. and bkm OfficeWorks.
MUFG Union Bank Foundation
Title: CONNECT ALL @ the Jacob Center
Location: San Diego, CA
Challenge: MUFG Union Bank Foundation in partnership with the City of San Diego and CONNECT ALL @ The Jacobs Center sought to bring access and opportunity to those disconnected from the prosperity of San Diego’s innovation and knowledge-based economy and startup ecosystem.
Innovation: MUFG Union Bank Foundation in partnership with the City of San Diego provided multi-year financial support to help establish CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center, the region’s only business accelerator program focused on low- and moderate-income and diverse founders. This accelerator program is free of charge and does not require an equity stake, unlike other accelerator programs in the city. To support the community, the program only accepts entrepreneurs that live in the City of San Diego and have their business in the City of San Diego.
Overview: This program, operated by Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, provides entrepreneurs with the tools they need to scale their business, including expert mentoring, business management, and investment relationship assistance. Services are free and do not require an equity stake. Participating startups utilize a new, well-appointed, 4,300-square-foot co-working space and business resource center, with program development and direction through the partnership with renowned entrepreneur supporter CONNECT w/ San Diego Venture Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with more than 30 years’ business acceleration experience.
Partners: MUFG Union Bank Foundation, City of San Diego, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, and CONNECT w/ San Diego Venture Group.
Project Contact: Julius Robinson, MUFG Union Bank Head of CSR for the Americas