The Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC) has extensive experience operating business development programs that provide technical assistance to Low to Moderate (LMI) Asian and Pacific Islander (API), immigrant, refugee and other ethnic populations. Currently UPAC provides technical assistance in the following economic development programs:

Ethnic Community Self-Help Program
The Ethnic Community Self-Help Program is a federally-funded Office of Refugee Resettlement program developed to increase self-sufficiency among San Diego’s East African and Karen refugee populations. The program provides 1) outreach to unserved and underserved Karen and East African refugees, 2) case management to assess and evaluate the needs of refugees, 3) linkage to existing community-based services for job training and placement, English language acquisition, and health care, and 4) increased self-employment opportunities through UPAC’s economic development programs.

Program for Investment in Micro-entrepreneurs Act (PRIME)
PRIME is a federally-funded Small Business Administration program which serves very low and low-income, linguistically and culturally isolated members of San Diego’s, Asian and East African refugee and immigrant communities. At a minimum, 50% of UPAC’s PRIME participants have incomes which are 150% of the Federal Poverty rate or $31,800 for a family of four.

Services provided through the PRIME grant include:

• Community outreach in low and very low income neighborhoods with large immigrant and refugee populations
• Flyers and brochures produced in Vietnamese, English, and East African, and distributed in targeted neighborhoods
• Presentations at community events
• Intake and needs assessment for potential micro-entrepreneurs
• Business education and financial literacy workshops
• 1 to 1 training assistance for potential micro-entrepreneurs
• 1 to 1 follow-up and assistance in the development or expansion of a micro-enterprise

Small Business Enhancement Program (SBEP)

 Funded by the City of San Diego, the program a) conducts community outreach to new and existing small business owners, b) provides culturally, linguistically and professionally competent micro-business technology training workshops on using information systmes, computers and related devises, c) provides technical assistance in the use of software programs for accounting, bookkeeping, and personnel management, and d) one-to-one post-training assessments.

Multicultural Economic Development (MED) Program
This project is funded in whole or in part with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Program conducts outreach to175 LEP individuals interested in starting or expanding small businesses. Fifty (50) prospective entrepreneurs will attend six (6) business courses and receive individual follow-up. Program participants receive guidance in business development, identifying financial resources, obtaining permits and licenses, increased understanding of bookkeeping and managing a small business. Thirty-one (31) new businesses will be established and two small businesses expanded.  Since 1994, UPAC’s MED program has assisted 835 LMI LEP immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs establish a wide array of small businesses, including but not limited to: ethnic grocery stores and restaurants, tailors and dry cleaning services, video shops, hair, nail and skin care salons, automotive service and repair, clothing stores, coffee shops, and family day care homes. This number includes the seven new businesses established through the Wells Fargo grant in 2010.

Wells Fargo Economic Development Project
Funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation in October 2010, the program conducts outreach to very low to moderate income and limited-English proficient (LEP) Vietnamese and East African individuals interested in starting or expanding small businesses. Prospective entrepreneurs attend business courses and receive individual follow-up. Program participants receive guidance in business skill development, financial resources identification, permits and licenses obtainment, and increased understanding of small business bookkeeping and management. Ten new businesses will be established and two small businesses expanded.

Home Ownership and Post Purchase Counseling
Funded by Citi Foundation, the program assists low to moderate income (LMI), limited English proficient (LEP) API and other ethnically diverse individuals realize their dreams of owning and retaining their homes. Technical assistance is provided to clients in completing loan applications, obtaining and maintaining credit, and translation and interpretation services to facilitate communication between clients and brokers, loan officers and landlords.

Foreclosure and Foreclosure Mitigation Program
Funded through a collaboration with the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the program will provide pre purchase counseling, foreclosure mitigation counseling on required client file documentation including authorizations, verified budget development, steps taken based on Action Plan, and close-out documentation in accordance with the National Industry Foreclosure Counseling Standard. Through foreclosure prevention and home Retention services, immigrants and refugees are assisted with home ownership, rental assistance, subsidized housing through Section 8 vouchers, pre-foreclosure prevention and mortgage/default counseling through workshops, ethnic media, and cultural community events.

1031 25th Street
San Diego, CA 92102
Phone: 619 232-6454 x820 Fax: 619 235-9002
Economic Development Programs
Hien Tran, Supervisor