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Long Beach Case Study

Downtown Long Beach Alliance

Our program in Downtown Long Beach was only our second Ambassador Team to hit the streets west of the Mississippi when we launched the Downtown Long Beach Alliance Safety Guides in 2005.  Ever since, the DLBA has always been a key figure in Block by Block’s history.  The Gateway City of Long Beach introduced us to unique challenges combining an urban water front locale with a dense residential core and energetic night life and entertainment scenes.  This environment allowed us really hone in our operating plan for delivering effective safety services to fit diverse user group needs in a west coast market all while growing as a company.

Today, our continued growth has an uncanny resemblance to our expansion of service offerings for the Downtown Long Beach Alliance.  Just as we were once a “simple” Clean and Safe company transformed into the go-to Swiss Army Knife for service delivery in the public realm, we’ve seen our service model in Long Beach progress from a Safety Ambassador program to one that’s all encompassing to include: Outreach, Cleaning, Pressure Washing, Landscaping, Place Making and Fee for Service expansions.  In addition to working with the DLBA to continually find new ways to enhance service delivery on the streets, we have also seen no less than six Ambassadors from our Long Beach teams promoted to management levels positions within Block by Block during our 15 year partnership with the DLBA.  That’s what we’d call a success story!

Thank you to the Downtown Long Beach Alliance for allowing us to not only grow with you, but for trusting us to be the face of your downtown.

Downtown Long beach By the Numbers:

  • Curb lines are cleared of debris with 287% more frequency since adding litter vacuums
  • 1.38 square miles of district sidewalks are pressure washed every single week
  • We check in with over 900 businesses each month to ensure they are well taken care of
  • In 10 minutes or less we can come to the rescue and assist with your flat tire or dead battery
  • Over 12,000 miles are covered annually by our district bike patrols alone

Get Connected with Block by Block

We provide superior specialized services through management of systems and people that allow our customers to focus on their core business. Learn more about how we have fine-tuned our cleaning and maintenance programs to bring your property better results at a better value.

Get Connected

Bay Ridge Case Study

SMALL DISTRICTS: Taking this District ‘Beyond Litter’ to accomplish more!

Block by Block was hired by the Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID on August 1, 2020 to provide supplemental environmental services within their annual sanitation budget of $229,822 to elevate the sanitary conditions and physical appearance of the heavily trafficked 5th Avenue district.

The Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID is comprised of 40 block faces stretching from 65th to 85th Streets in Brooklyn, NY and has an annual assessment of $534,000.  The community mirrors much of NYC as a vibrant and culturally diverse residential and business district that is home to over 330 ground floor retail and restaurant establishments along 5th Avenue and over 70,000 residents in the surrounding neighborhood.

The previous vendor provided only trash services via broom and dustpan with no graffiti or weed removal, special project work such as power washing or painting of street furniture, leaving the district in need of significant restoration work on August 1st.

Block by Block’s approach to making an immediate and lasting impact was to add 208 “blitz” hours to the annual budget that would allow the Ambassadors to quickly bring the district up to a standard that could be maintained by the Team’s 160 weekly service hours.  The “blitz” hours included restoration work such as the power washing the 78 district trash cans, painting 192 street fixtures (streetlamp poles, hydrants, fireboxes and bus stops) weeding and deep cleaning the tree pits and removing graffiti and stickers from street furniture and storefronts.  Due to both storage space and budgetary constraints equipment for the program is limited to: rolling barrels, a special project cart with paint and graffiti removal supplies, battery operated blowers & weed trimmers and a power washing trike to clean trash cans/spills and stains, radios for communication and iPhones for data and photo collection in the SMART System.

The 90 day improvement to 5th Avenue was dramatic as noted by the before and after photos as well as the SMART System statistical measurements:

  • 225 graffiti tags removed
  • 520 bills & stickers removed
  • 1557 trash cans cleaned
  • 6211 trash bags used – representing over 217,577 lbs of trash removed from the district
  • 192 street fixtures painted
20/08 20/09 20/10 TOTAL
311 Requests 5 10 11 26
Bike Removal 1 1 2 4
Business Contact 48 87 87 222
Graffiti – Removed 50 12 163 225
Hospitality Assistance 146 137 114 397
Stickers Removed From Infrastructure 159 224 137 520
Storm Drains Cleaned 1233 869 604 2,706
Trash (# of bags) 2191 1992 2028 6,211
Trash Cans Cleaned 569 597 391 1,557
Tree Pit Cleaning 495 683 435 1,613
Weed Abatement (sites) 95 53 56 204

Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID – By the Numbers

  • 40 block faces/20 NYC blocks serviced = 1 mile
  • 330 ground floor retail & restaurant establishments
  • 78 district trash cans
  • 13 NYC transit B63 bus stops

The Ambassador Program – By the Numbers

  • 160 weekly service hours
  • 208 blitz hours
  • 4 FTEs
  • 3 rolling barrels
  • 1 power washing trike
  • 1 projects cart
  • 2 battery operated greenworks blowers
  • 2 battery operated greenworks trimmers
  • 3 radios
  • 3 SMART Devices

The 90 Day Results – By the Numbers

  • 225 Graffiti Tags Removed
  • 520 Bills & Stickers Removed
  • 1,557 Trash Cans Cleaned
  • 6,211 Trash Bags Used – Representing over 217,577 lbs of trash removed from the district

Total District Infrastructure Painted 192

  • 128 black light poles
  • 22 green traffic control boxes
  • 10 red fire boxes
  • 15 yellow bus stop curb lines
  • 10 black/gray hydrants and bollards
  • 7 gray storefront roll down gates

Get Connected with Block by Block

We provide superior specialized services through management of systems and people that allow our customers to focus on their core business. Learn more about how we have fine-tuned our cleaning and maintenance programs to bring your property better results at a better value.

Get Connected

MBTA Case Study

Block by Block serves the MBTA

In 2015 the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) began searching for a more cost efficient solution for providing in-station customer assistance. The recognized cost efficiencies would allow the system to deliver more coverage to the most heavily traversed stations in the system, which is known as ‘The T’. Much of the need to implement broader customer service was influenced by the mandate given to the agency to better serve those riders having disabilities.

After seeing Block by Block’s many friendly faces of its Downtown Boston Business Improvement District’s Ambassador program, the MBTA engaged Block by Block to learn more about our services, along with our philosophies of culture and proactive engagement, which drive those great interactions in downtown Boston.

After a formal interview to share our ideas and strategies we were awarded a two-station pilot program. One of those stations was the Chinatown station, which long have been plagued by socially unacceptable issues related to the transient population in that neighborhood. The addition of the highly visible Ambassadors has been credited with improving not only the perception of safety of that station, but the feeling of cleanliness as many of the unacceptable behaviors generated cleaning issues for the station. The visibility of the Ambassadors in those stations was greatly attributed to the requirement for Ambassadors to be present in the entrances, near the areas where ticket machines are located and on the platforms. Many riders commented in the first few days that there was a much more positive vibe to the stations by having a smiling face in the station.

Upon conclusion of the two month pilot program there was an overwhelming feeling that the program had been highly successful. This led to an expansion of 11 more stations within the core of the system, followed by expansion ot 17, then 24 then 31 stations in the system.

The addition of friendly, helpful people was obviously one of the desired outcomes of the Transit Ambassador program. In fact some referred to this as one of the few initiatives in memory that received unanimous public approval.

There was however a significant secondary benefit recognized by the MBTA.  The agency realized a considerable reduction in fare evasion. Having an actively engaged, uniformed presence has been impactful on the number of riders who would piggy back in or jump the fare gates. While it’s hard to predict how much fare evasion has been reduced, estimates range as low as 8% and as high as 24%, which means that a significant amount of expense related to the Ambassador program is recovered through riders paying the expected fare.

If you find yourself in Boston, make sure to say hello to one of our friendly Transit Ambassadors!

The Block by Block Transit Ambassador Program by the Numbers:

Most widely recognized program with a positive impact.

  • Number of Transit Ambassadors – 271
  • Stations Serviced – 44 Core Stations with multiple positions in many stations
  • Number of persons assisted in 2019 – 234,000+
  • Number of disabled riders assisted – 41,000+
  • Number of incidents reported – 2,350
  • Reduction in fare evasion – 8%-24%
  • Smiles and Greetings Provided – Millions
  • Issues deterred – Countless

Get Connected with Block by Block

We provide superior specialized services through management of systems and people that allow our customers to focus on their core business. Learn more about how we have fine-tuned our cleaning and maintenance programs to bring your property better results at a better value.

Get Connected

Thank you, BID employees, for keeping downtown clean and welcoming

A letter from Mark and Susan Kolstad written to the editor of inforum.com praises Fargo’s BID!

“We wish to thank the ambassadors of BID (Business Improvement District) and its director, Chris Schlepp, for the wonderful work they do in making our downtown neighborhood a pleasant experience.”

Read the full letter here

Milwaukee Downtown BID #21

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

WELCOMING FACES, FRIENDLY PLACES

Milwaukee’s walking concierges. Downtown’s spirit squad. Information gurus. Our Public Service Ambassadors (PSAs) go by many names. What remains consistent is their unwavering dedication to keep downtown Milwaukee clean, safe and friendly. From locating missing children to assisting disabled motorists, the PSAs serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for Milwaukee’s police and fire departments—making BID #21 one of the safest districts in the city and one of the safest downtown’s in the country.

Weather permitting, Milwaukee Downtown also employs a PSA bike patrol to heighten visibility. On top of contributing to safety, this amiable crew is on the front lines welcoming visitors on a daily basis. Need suggestions on things to do? How about where to stay or where to dine? Just track down a PSA. Equipped with informational brochures and a world of downtown knowledge, the PSAs always have a pulse on what’s happening.

View BID Website

Services:

hospitality

outreach

placemaking

Number of Blocks 150 - Serving Since: 2018

Rosslyn BID

Arlington, Virginia

If you walk around Rosslyn, you are likely to see Rosslyn’s Ambassadors in their familiar purple sweatshirts, jackets, and hats. Their mission is to keep Rosslyn’s streets clean, give directions, offer restaurant suggestions, and even call a tow truck if a person’s car breaks down. They removal litter, weeds and graffiti. They also set up, provide hospitality services and tear down for many special events in the district. A Safety Ambassador element was added to the program to enhance the awareness of the organizations services throughout the district as well as support events and other programming.

 

Meet the Team! 

View BID Website

Services:

hospitality

safety

cleaning

outreach

landscaping

placemaking

Number of Blocks 18 - Serving Since: 2013

Downtown Norfolk Council

Norfolk, Virginia

Public Service and Hospitality

An important area of focus for the DID is working to ensure that Downtown is a safe and inviting environment for those who work here, those who live here and those who visit to dine, shop or be entertained. Uniformed and highly trained Public Service Ambassadors are charged specifically with the responsibility of achieving these objectives. Their list of services, programs and communications is varied.

Public Service Ambassadors

  • Concierge assistance
  • “Eyes and Ears” for local law enforcement
  • Foot patrols
  • F.R.E.D. – Free Ride Every Day
  • Monthly inventory of inoperable street lights
  • Community Services Board Resource Guide
  • Referrals to human service programs
  • Security alert system
  • Safety escorts
  • Security training programs for business
  • Special event support
  • Trespass enforcement
  • Norfolk Cares – an opportunity for you to help
  • Visitor Information bicycle kiosk

District Support Certification:

  • VDOT Work Zone certification for Street Closures

DNC Ambassadors are on patrol Monday-Thursday, 5am-9pm; Friday and Saturday, 5am-11:30pm; and Sunday 7:00am-3:00pm.

View BID Website

Services:

safety

cleaning

placemaking

Number of Blocks 50 - Serving Since: 2018

Uptown Dallas, Inc.

Dallas, Texas

CLEAN STREETS / AMBASSADORS – In 2017, Uptown Dallas, Inc. proudly announced the addition of Block by Block, a cleaning, hospitality, safety and outreach company that helps us keep Uptown in pristine condition. If you see them out and about throughout Uptown (they’re the ones wearing bright blue with the Uptown Dallas, Inc. logo) be sure to say “Hi!”

View BID Website

Services:

cleaning

Number of Blocks 78 - Serving Since: 2016

South Congress Avenue (Austin)

Austin, Texas

More info to come!

View BID Website

Services:

cleaning

Number of Blocks 20 - Serving Since: 2019

Houston Downtown Management District

Houston, Texas

The Operations team works to ensure that Downtown is one of the cleanest and safest neighborhoods in the city. Together, Operations and the Houston Police Department work to ensure public safety, while also addressing homelessness. The District provides the cleaning and care of Downtown’s sidewalks and streetscapes, removing over 2,000 tons of litter in 2019, and addresses the improvement of Downtown’s quality of place by collaborating in the creation of a number of ordinances and regulations.

  • The District collaborates in the creation of a number of ordinances and regulations addressing the improvement of Downtown’s quality of place.
  • The District collaborates in significant changes related to coordinated housing and services for the homeless with a 54% reduction in homeless from 2011 to 2020 based on the annual Point in Time count.
STREET TEAM

The street team works toward the District goal of making Downtown Houston a desirable place to live, work and visit. This highly visible crew provides daily services to maintain the security and cleanliness of the district. Some of their contributions include:

  • Keeping approximately 800 block-face sidewalks (200 city blocks) plus planter beds, tree-wells and pavers continually free from rubbish, trash, food particles, debris, stains, grime and weeds.
  • Removing graffiti inside the District within four (4) business hours after notification throughout the District.
  • Keeping amenities and outdoor furniture i.e. trash receptacles, benches, bike racks, drinking fountains etc. free from soils, stains, trash, graffiti etc. and ensuring all hardware is tight and all components are present and usable.
  • Watering areas that are currently non-irrigated by utilizing the District’s watering trailer and pick-up.
  • Keeping six (6) District sponsored Port-a-cans clean and free from soiling and debris.
ELEVATED LEVELS OF SERVICE

Throughout the District, there are specific areas that require increased efforts to maintain a pristine level of cleanliness, a high level of operational reliability and a demonstrated commitment to providing programmatic support. Park and plaza attendants are responsible for reporting any deficiencies or defects via the work order system.

The District provides extra care to:

  • Market Square Park
  • Main Street Square (Dallas to Walker)
  • Main Street/Dallas Street

View BID Website

Services:

hospitality

safety

cleaning

parks

placemaking

Number of Blocks 350 - Serving Since: 2016

Downtown Fort Worth

Fort Worth, Texas

The Downtown Ambassador Program is the hospitality service team provided by the Downtown Public Improvement District (PID). The Ambassadors are circulating throughout downtown in their vibrant green pick up, on foot, on bicycles, and on Segways assisting visitors, creating a friendly and welcoming environment, and adding extra eyes and ears on the street.

Downtown Ambassadors Hours: 
Sunday – Saturday 7 am – 12 am.

Contact:
Ambassador@dfwi.org
On Duty Supervisor 817-484-3723

The Downtown Ambassador Team provides the following services:

  • Hospitality Services
  • Directions
  • Safety Escorts
  • Coordination with Clean Team
  • Coordination with Security Providers
  • Homelessness Outreach
  • Referrals to Social Services

The Downtown Ambassador Team expanded to include an Outreach Coordinator in early 2020.The Outreach Coordinator joined the team to focus on building relationships with homeless individuals to provide strategic case-level management directing them to needed services.

Outreach Coordinator Contact:
682-218-8156

Program managed by Block by Block. Block by Block operates programs in over 100 districts nationwide, including seven districts in Texas.

View BID Website

Services:

hospitality

outreach

Number of Blocks 335 - Serving Since: 2017

Downtown Austin Alliance

Austin, Texas

Downtown Ambassadors Program

The Downtown Ambassadors are the cornerstone of our direct services program. Every day our team of approximately 50 ambassadors works from 6am to 11pm removing trash and pressure washing streets. Our ambassadors are stewards for downtown and a resource for locals and visitors. They provide information, assistance, local insider tips, cleanup, beautification services and reporting.

During the pandemic, the Ambassadors began performing enhanced sanitization of downtown infrastructure, including benches, light posts and door handles. They also maintained public handwashing stations in high-traffic areas. The Ambassadors follow social distancing protocols and guidelines for personal protective equipment, in accordance with the latest guidelines from local health officials.

By supporting and promoting downtown businesses, beautiful parks, open space, nightlife, arts and culture, we make it a welcoming place for everyone.

Keeping Downtown Austin Safe and Welcoming

Our team routinely audits city systems, infrastructure and services to ensure public spaces downtown are maintained. This decreases 311 calls. The Ambassadors also coordinate with other city services such as Austin Resource Recovery, Austin Public Works and Watershed Protection on repair projects.

Contact the Downtown Ambassadors at (512) 937-7422 or via our Service Request form for public litter or waste removal, graffiti removal, sidewalk-cleaning issues, general information, safety escorts, flat tire, a battery jump or help with a flat tire.

In case of emergency, call 911 immediately. To report crimes after the fact or request city infrastructure repairs, call 311.

Hours of Service

7 days a week from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm

Ambassador Service Priorities

Clean

  • Litter and graffiti removal
  • Cleaning streets and sidewalks
  • Non-harmful bird and bird waste management

Safe

  • Escorting visitors
  • Reporting public disturbances
  • Connecting people with social services

Beautiful

  • Weed removal
  • Painting
  • Beautification of planters and landscaped beds

Hospitable

  • Greeting visitors
  • Providing tourism information and directions
  • Connecting with business owners and residents

View BID Website

Services:

hospitality

safety

outreach

parks

Number of Blocks 163 - Serving Since: 2016

Corpus Christi Downtown Medical District

Corpus Christi, Texas

All ways clean. All ways safe.

The Corpus Christi Downtown Management District (DMD) strives to maintain the highest level of cleanliness and safety to create a welcoming environment for visitors and a vibrant location for businesses to thrive. In coordination with the Corpus Christi Police Department, we’re also vigilant in providing a safe District resulting in low incidences of crime and positive perceptions of safety. DMD has created a number of partnerships with City of Corpus Christi, private sector businesses and corporate anchors to create this safe environment.

DMD utilizes a eight-member, customer friendly Clean Team that works seven days a week picking up litter, removing graffiti, sweeping streets and sidewalks, and painting street fixtures. Additionally, each Clean Team member helps visitors with questions and directions.

DMD utilizes of pool of 18 bike patrol police officers who are certified tourism ambassadors and are paid to patrol the Greater Downtown area in their off-time. They act as a visible, customer-friendly police presence that can provide assistance to visitors, make arrests and address public safety issues.

 

View BID Website

Services:

cleaning

landscaping

Number of Blocks 60 - Serving Since: 2017

Centro San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas

Since 1999, Centro has provided cleaning + hospitality services for the Public Improvement District (PID) in Downtown San Antonio. Our Ambassador team works 7 days a week, 365 days a year to create the cleanest and safest downtown in the US. As the organization and PID have grown, additional services have been added, increasing the beauty, cleanliness, safety, and prosperity of downtown.

Over the past ten years, the PID Ambassador team has grown from 54 to 92. Additional services including the Quality-of-Life Team, disinfecting high touch infrastructure, power washing pavement and bus stops, street vacuums, bird abatement, and landscaping have been added.

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE

Our Clean Team continues to adapt to the public health needs of our community to ensure cleaner and safer high-touch areas while delivering 100% of our legacy services.

SAFETY 

For decades, our Ambassadors have served as friendly faces and “eyes on the street” for locals and visitors. In recent years, our commitment to safety led to expanded contracts with Downtown Bike Patrol and the creation of our Quality of Life Team. We also work closely with City and County partners and advocate for funding and resources to ensure that there is necessary law enforcement presence and coverage to ensure the safety of the neighborhood.

HOSPITALITY

Our Hospitality Ambassadors are knowledgeable of downtown history, attractions, amenities, and geography and can provide information, directions, and general assistance to pedestrians that they encounter downtown.

View BID Website

Services:

hospitality

safety

cleaning

outreach

landscaping

parks

placemaking

Number of Blocks 132 - Serving Since: 2009

Nashville Downtown Partnership

Nashville, Tennessee

The Downtown Clean & Safe Team

Keeping downtown Nashville clean and safe for employees, residents and visitors is the primary focus of our Ambassadors.

Carrying out services that supplement those of the Metro government, this team improves the appearance of downtown streets and sidewalks, elevates the sense of security, and helps create an attractive and welcoming downtown environment.

On foot or Segways, the safety ambassadors keep an eye out for situations requiring police or emergency services and quickly communicate with the appropriate dispatchers.

HOURS OF SERVICE

  • Clean Team:
    • 5:00 am – 10:30 pm daily in the central district
    • 6:30 am – 3:30 pm daily in The Gulch district
  • Safety Ambassadors:
    • 6:00 am – 10:30 pm daily in the CBID & GBID

To report cleanliness or safety issues or request services from the Downtown Ambassadors, please contact our Clean & Safe Office:

P: (615) 242-9909

View BID Website

Services:

safety

cleaning

outreach

landscaping

parks

Number of Blocks 253 - Serving Since: 2002

Memphis Medical District Collaborative

Memphis, Tennessee

Clean & Safe Streets

Litter, graffiti, and crime – or the perception of crime –  deters pedestrian activity, economic vibrancy, and investments. This is why MMDC and its partners prioritize keeping the District clean and safe for every worker, resident, and visitor.  MMDC deploys a range of tactics including our Ambassador Team; coordination with existing security and law enforcement agencies; graffiti and litter removal; and landscape enhancements to make sure the District is safe and inviting for everyone.

MMDC’s Ambassador Program

The 10 Memphis Medical District Ambassadors focus on keeping the District clean and inviting.  They are approachable and welcoming for visitors, employees, students and residents.  Ambassadors can help with directions or offer suggestions for places to eat and visit in the District.  They also ensure that the District is free of weeds, litter, and graffiti.

View BID Website

Services:

hospitality

cleaning

Number of Blocks 50 - Serving Since: 2016

Myrtle Beach Downtown Association

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

The highly visible, trained, and friendly Myrtle Beach Gold Cap Ambassadors are part of a cooperative effort to enhance and promote Downtown Myrtle Beach as a unique, authentic, and vibrant downtown experience. Our ambassadors provide guests with information and directions to area businesses and attractions, have the ability to communicate with the Myrtle Beach Police Department, and facilitate area improvements through communication and contacts.

All of our Gold Cap Ambassadors are radio equipped and can be dispatched for a variety of services. They patrol throughout the 40-block Downtown Area and are easy to spot with their gold shirts adorned with the MBDA logo and their warm, welcoming smiles.

Importantly, Gold Caps provide supplemental cleaning and hospitality services intended to complement rather than supplant regular maintenance services provided by the City of Myrtle Beach.

View BID Website

Services:

hospitality

cleaning

Number of Blocks 40 - Serving Since: 2020

City Center Partnership (Columbia)

Columbia, South Carolina

So who are those knowledgeable, helpful folks in the yellow shirts riding and walking around downtown Columbia? They’re the Main Street District’s Clean and Safe Ambassadors, but many people just know them as the “Yellow Shirt Ambassadors.”

 

Many folks have seen them at big events like Soda City Market or one of our many festivals, but the ambassadors’ visibility is much larger. They operate seven days a week from 7 AM to 11:30 PM and cover the Main Street District jurisdiction (36-block area bound by Assembly, Marion, Gervais and Elmwood), plus both sides of Elmwood Avenue from Bull Street to Lincoln Street.

 

The Yellow Shirt Ambassadors have been operating within the Main Street District since 2002, providing cleaning services and public safety information. From removing litter and graffiti to maintaining contact with businesses and residents, and even shuttling people to their destination, the Yellow Shirt Ambassadors are here to help. They also remain in contact with CPD when needed.

 

To get in touch with the Yellow Shirt Ambassadors, call their customer service line at 803-587-7831, or find them in their bright yellow shirts along the street.

View BID Website

Services:

safety

cleaning

outreach

landscaping

Number of Blocks 36 - Serving Since: 2002

Providence Downtown Improvement District

Providence, Rhode Island

Since 2005, the Providence Downtown Improvement District (DID) has had a visible presence downtown, working side-by-side with community partners.

Clean Streets for Everyone

The DID Clean Team is on litter patrol every day! You’ll find team members wearing bright yellow uniforms, sweeping the sidewalks and collecting trash throughout the downtown district. They collect an average of nearly 50,000 lbs. of trash each month!

Clean Team members also powerwash sidewalks, remove stickers from street signs and poles, and do touch-up painting of street furniture. In the summer months they do graffiti removal, and in the winter they shovel snow from sidewalk curb cuts. Keeping downtown clean and attractive is a top priority.

Keeping Downtown Safe

DID safety guides work closely with the Providence Police Department and other members of the community to keep downtown safe and welcoming. Every day, they patrol the district on foot, on bike, and on segway, providing extra eyes and ears on the street.

Landscaping

Since 2007, the DID has managed the seasonal downtown planting program, to great acclaim. Starting with 94 hanging baskets and a few planting areas, the program has expanded to now include 292 hanging baskets, 90 large-scale sidewalk planters, and 8 ground-level planting areas.

The gorgeous flowers add a pop of color downtown, and as visitors frequently comment, the city has never looked better!

 

View BID Website

Services:

safety

cleaning

landscaping

Number of Blocks 87 - Serving Since: 2005

Sports Complex Special Services District

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Sports Complex Special Services District, or SCSSD for short, is non-profit corporation that serves approximately 9,000 residents living in 4,100 households surrounding the Sports Complex venues in South Philadelphia. SCSSD is engaged in a mission to: protect community interests, improve neighborhood quality of life and promote efficient operation of adjacent sports venues.

View BID Website

Services:

cleaning

placemaking

Number of Blocks 91 - Serving Since: 2012

Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership/Golden Triangle

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Block by Block is responsible for the daily management and staffing of the Clean and Outreach Team. The staff is comprised of two Street Team Ambassadors and 21 Clean Team Ambassadors. The Clean Team Ambassadors are responsible for creating a clean and presentable environment in Downtown Pittsburgh that serves the residential and professional communities, while also creating an inviting and welcoming atmosphere for those seeking a family-friendly fun time. Clean Team Ambassadors are responsible for keeping downtown free of litter, weeds, and graffiti as well as carrying out tasks that improve the long-term appearance in downtown. The Street Team Ambassadors aid in the safety of those who live, work and play in Downtown Pittsburgh. Their primary responsibility is directly engaging the unhoused and unsheltered population to provide available resources to assist them in improving the quality of their lives and restoring the quality of their standard of living that should be afforded to us all.

 

The Golden Triangle Ambassadors are the hospitality arm of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

View BID Website

Services:

cleaning

outreach

parks

placemaking

Number of Blocks 88 - Serving Since: 2006

Oakland BID (Pittsburgh)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Oakland Business Improvement District contracts Block By Block, a nationally recognized maintenance contractor, to provide sidewalk cleaning services for the District. A crew of ambassadors works seven days per week to ensure that the commercial corridor – over 4 miles of sidewalks – remains free of litter and debris. We remove more than 5 tons of trash, 220,000 cigarette butts, and over 2,000 pizza boxes annually!

Of course, litter removal is just the first step in creating an attractive streetscape. Our crew also removes weeds, graffiti, illegal flyers, stickers and staples from our infrastructure. During the fall season, the crew also ensures that the leaf buildup is removed along with the typical litter and debris, and in the winter, we keep the ADA ramps clear of snow and ice. The crew also uses a hot-water pressure washer to remove gum, grease, dirt and grime from all of our district’s sidewalks–on average over 70 storefronts (of which 40% get repeat washing).

View BID Website

Services:

cleaning

Number of Blocks 20 - Serving Since: 2010

Greater Easton Dev. Partnership

Easton, Pennsylvania

Since the inception of the program in Spring 2008, thanks in large part to private contributions, the Ambassadors have provided assistance to business owners, residents and visitors by helping to improve the cleanliness and safety of the downtown. Administered by Block-by-Block, they work hard to make Easton a welcoming destination and improve the quality of life for existing businesses and residents. They can be seen in any weather, from early morning until late at night, sprucing up, removing graffiti, providing directional assistance, planting and watering, mulching, or shoveling snow in winter. They play a crucial role in the future economic development of Easton’s downtown.

View BID Website

Services:

hospitality

safety

cleaning

Number of Blocks 20 - Serving Since: 2008

Diamond City Partnership (Wilkes-Barre)

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

DCP’s Downtown Ambassador Team provides on-street services throughout the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Improvement District. Five days a week, our three-person team removes trash, graffiti, and stickers; maintains pet waste stations; removes snow and ice from sidewalk ramps, maintains more than 186 seasonal hanging flower baskets and a dozen large self-watering sidewalk planters, and provides directions and assistance to visitors.

View BID Website

Services:

cleaning

Number of Blocks 21 - Serving Since: 2013

Bethlehem Economic Dev. Corp. (BEDCO)

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Look for their signature gold and blue uniforms and come say hello to the SouthSide Ambassadors. Here in South Bethlehem, our Ambassadors pick up litter, remove graffiti, empty trash receptacles and remove weeds to keep the downtown clean. Safety patrols work directly with the local police to serve as a highly visible presence throughout strategic areas of the district. All of our SouthSide Ambassadors provide energetic and personal hospitality to visitors with friendly greetings, directions, recommendations and assistance.

The Ambassadors program is administered by BEDCO, managed by Block by Block, and launched in partnership with Lehigh University in 2014.  Lehigh University provides most of the funding for the program and other funders include CADCB, Northampton County, and Sycamore Hill Farm Development.

View BID Website

Services:

safety

cleaning

Number of Blocks 18 - Serving Since: 2014

The University of Akron

Akron, Ohio

We know a prestigious university like The University of Akron requires a high-level of quality cleaning, safety and hospitality services, so we put special care into keeping the campus vibrant and welcoming for staff and students.

View BID Website

Services:

hospitality

safety

Number of Blocks 82 - Serving Since: 2014

Town Center at Levis Commons

Perrysburg, Ohio

In Northwest Ohio’s premier shopping destination, Block by Block maintains the common areas and provides a safety and hospitality patrol.

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Services:

safety

cleaning

Number of Blocks 8 - Serving Since: 2018

Downtown Toledo BID

Toledo, Ohio

The Downtown Toledo Ambassadors are a service of ConnecToledo, Downtown Development Corporation and the Downtown Toledo Improvement District.  They work 7 days a week and help keep the public spaces clean and orderly; provide hospitality services such as directions, flat tire changes and event management; and work with property owners/businesses/Toledo Police on safety issues.  They’re here to serve you… always with a smile!

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Services:

hospitality

safety

cleaning

placemaking

Number of Blocks 48 - Serving Since: 2006

Downtown Dayton Partnership

Dayton, Ohio

The Downtown Ambassadors are on the streets year-round, making your downtown a cleaner and safer place to be. The ambassadors are easy to spot, wearing bright “safety green” shirts in warm weather and bright blue jackets in inclement weather.

Ambassador duties include picking up litter, power-washing sidewalks and removing graffiti. They also patrol on bicycles and on foot, serving as extra eyes and ears for the Dayton Police Department. Most importantly, they serve as goodwill ambassadors providing assistance to downtown visitors, workers and residents.

If you have comments about the ambassador program you would like to share, please contact us. If you need to contact the ambassadors directly, they can be reached at (937) 224-4DDP.

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Services:

safety

cleaning

Number of Blocks 88 - Serving Since: 2005

Downtown Cleveland Alliance

Cleveland, Ohio

Downtown Cleveland, Inc. is focused on maintaining an environment of wellbeing for everyone in the Downtown Cleveland area including residents, visitors, employees, and disadvantaged individuals. We accomplish this mission through our team of dedicated clean and safe ambassadors.  Ambassadors can be spotted in bright blue and yellow uniforms walking and biking throughout downtown enhancing the pedestrian experience through a variety of services.

We deploy ambassadors for over 110,000 hours annually to ensure the pedestrian experience in the city’s core is clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone.

Our Clean and Safe Team is constantly improving the Downtown area by disposing of litter, sanitizing public touch points, removing graffiti, providing safety escorts, offering motor vehicle assistance, increasing uniformed visibility, and ensuring the welfare of the unsheltered population. While we believe there is no single fix for the complex issues surrounding homelessness and mental health, our goal is to address the problem in a comprehensive manner through various initiatives.

Call Us When You Need:

  • Directions or Recommendations on Anything Downtown
  • Safety Escorts to Your Destination
  • Assistance With Flat Tires, Car Lockouts, and Jumpstarts
  • To Report Instances of Trash and Graffiti
  • To Report Suspicious Activity
  • Mental Wellness Response / Services

Clean

Clean ambassadors are assigned specific routes to pick up trash, debris, remove graffiti, and generally ensure a clean environment while monitoring pedestrian activity in the downtown geographic area.

Safe

Safety ambassadors are assigned to specific routes to interact with business operators, employees, and residents to gain information on safety concerns. Safety ambassadors communicate closely with local law enforcement while being a resource to clean ambassadors.

Welcoming

Hospitality ambassadors are staged throughout downtown as additional mobile concierge. Look for them with the welcome flags, mobile valet stand, and friendly personalities.

 

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Services:

safety

cleaning

outreach

landscaping

parks

placemaking

Number of Blocks 65 - Serving Since: 2006