Downtown Minneapolis Business Improvement District Selects Block by Block
After careful evaluation of more than twenty firms and site visits the newly formed Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District has selected Block by Block to operate the district’s Safety and Clean Team. The program being established in Minneapolis is one of the largest outsourced programs in the country with a combined services budget of nearly $3,000,000.
The group, brightly clad in highly visible green shirts, will take to the streets on July 1st.The teams will have upward of seventy Ambassadors on the street, depending on the season and time of day. A strategic deployment plan for personnel and resources has been created in order to maximize the visibility of the staff and to make the staff as effective as possible in dealing with issues specific to downtown, both real and perceived.
Ambassadors assigned to carry out the safety function will be on foot, bicycle or Segway and will be on the lookout for those persons in need of assistance with directions to downtown destinations, assistance with parking, or who might need recommendations on what to do or see. Additionally the Hospitality and Safety Ambassadors will serve as additional eyes and ears of the Minneapolis Police Department, by reporting suspicious activity or trends.
Cleaning Ambassadors will be responsible for taking care of a wide variety of tasks designed to improve the overall appearance of the public right of way. Their responsibilities include removing litter, debris, graffiti and weeds from sidewalks and alleys. As well, the district will receive power washing and other services, such as minor painting and landscaping, to improve its long term appearance.
“Were extremely excited about the opportunity to do many great things to improve Downtown Minneapolis” comments Blair McBride, Block by Block’s Vice President. “There’s a direct correlation between the cleanliness and friendliness of the streets and the number of construction cranes in the skies. We’re in the process of hand selecting a staff that demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of their downtown community!”
Upon selection Block by Block launched its very detailed transition plan, which is being orchestrated by a six person implementation team. The team will oversee every possible detail of getting a large scale safety and cleaning program off the ground to include staff selection and training, procurement of supplies and equipment, establishing communication methods, and configuring an Operations Center.