UPAC Neighborhood Enterprise Center (NEC)

What We Do

While providing services to youth in City Heights, we recognized the need for a local community “hub” that not only provided a safe space to gather, but a space for at-risk youth involved in our programs to gain employment. That’s when the idea of the Neighborhood Enterprise Center was born.

Through seed funding from the City of San Diego, we transformed a 4,622 square foot restaurant into a thriving social enterprise, known as the UPAC Neighborhood Enterprise Center (NEC). We are a community “hub” providing much needed resources and opportunities for both UPAC clients and the ethnically diverse residents and small business owners of City Heights. 80% of our employees at NEC are at-risk youth who have participated in our programs. This unique setting allows them to gain job training and business development to help them thrive!

The Center consists of 5 components:

1. The Neighborhood Cafe— A full service dine-in Cafe that features cultural dishes from the various ethnic groups of City Heights. Catering services are also available. All revenu from the Cafe is invested back into youth employment at NEC.
2. Kitchen Creations— Our rental kitchen consists of a spacious, newly remodeled 1000 square foot commercial kitchen, with spacious prep area, dish and prep sinks, dry storage and refrigerator/freezer space. Nominal fees for this service help sustain NEC.
3. YBE Print Shop— The Print shop allows youth from UPAC’s Youth Business Enterprise Program to design, create, market  and sell their print products. Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, youth have hands-on learning experience as they create banners, window signage, t-shirts, canvas bags and more! All proceeds are invested back into the program to support our youth.
4. Technology Center– This space is equipped with computers, internet access, copy and fax machine and serves to train UPAC clients for careers in IT and small business development.
5. Community Gathering Place— This open space can be reserved for meetings, training, workshops and more!