OPERATIONS

DOWNTOWN AMBASSADORS:

Ambassadors continue to keep our downtown and the Commons clean and attractive. “Clean team” will be removing graffiti on various public buildings throughout the BID in the summer months. We continue our partnership with TCAT for bus stop maintenance and continue partnership with the city to augment their work (trash on weekends and holidays). The ambassadors also work very closely with the Events team (helps with set up and tear down, trash pick up during events).

Clean team ambassadors are scheduled seven days a week, so there is always someone on the Commons. The hospitality ambassadors work in the summer and fall which aligns with tourism and summer concert series. The hospitality team works from the Red Cart, where they assist guests, answer questions and help guide pedestrians looking for specific business or activities to do within the BID

PLACEMAKING:

The Director of Operations and Placemaking has been spearheading some placemaking projects in and around the Commons. Be on the lookout in the coming months for new scenery and art around Baby Bank Alley and near Urban Outfitters! These small projects will lead to even larger ones as we use our placemaking demonstration to inform future decisions.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM:

The DIA co-funds the Family & Children’s Services Community Outreach Worker Program, established as a means to reach out to and assist at-risk populations.

PAY IT FORWARD:

“Pay It Forward” is a community partnership that enables persons in need to easily access food, toiletries, and supplies on the street. Annually, the program receives monetary donations from the boxes located on the Commons. These funds are then given to the Community Outreach Workers Program (C.O.W.P.) We are working on a sister program that will have feminine care products readily available to those who need them.

BEAUTIFICATION:

We have been continuing our partnership with the Community Beautification Program of Tompkins County. Our “green team” help with the beautification of the planters throughout the Commons and BID, taking care of planting flowers, weeds and other landscaping. The green team helps to keep our tourists, guests, and Ithacans coming back to visit.

The program currently has two downtown outreach professionals who work Monday to Friday providing on the street/sidewalk assistance, intervention and support to people in need. They also make referrals to social service agencies and programs, providing care management level assistance as necessary. The program also works with downtown businesses and landlords, city and county officials and area churches.

The program interacts with, on average, six to 12 individuals per day and have had over 4,000 individual interactions and more than 10,000 encounters since the program’s inception.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS:

The Commons again looked quite festive with 27 snowflake holiday lights and LED lighting fixtures installed around the Commons trees. Fifteen additional smaller snowflake light installations were along the 100 W. M.L.K. Jr. St. and 300 E. M.L.K. Jr. St. block. Plus, our color-changing LED holiday tree illuminated Bank Alley on the Commons. We are in the process of planning and discussing upgrades and new decorations for the near future.