Downtown Akron Partnership Inc

PROMOTE AND BUILD A VIBRANT AND VALUABLE DOWNTOWN AKRON

CLEAN, SAFE & WELCOMING:DAP PROVIDES CLEANING AND SAFETY AMBASSADORS THROUGH OUR $446,162.00 CONTRACT WITH BLOCK BY BLOCK. DAP'S CLEAN & SAFE AMBASSADORS ENHANCE THE DOWNTOWN QUALITY OF LIFE WITH FOOT AND BIKE PATROLS THROUGHOUT THE 42-BLOCK DISTRICT AND ADJACENT BUSINESS MEMBER PROPERTIES. AMBASSADORS PATROL THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO REMOVE TRASH, GRAFFITI AND SAFETY HAZARDS, REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PROVIDE HOSPITALITY ASSISTANCE INCLUDING JUMP STARTS, LOCK OUTS, AND FUEL EMERGENCY SUPPORT. THE TEAM POWER WASHES SIDEWALKS, MAINTAINS ASH URNS, PULLS WEEDS AND CHECKS IN WITH LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS. AMBASSADORS ALSO CLEAN AND DISINFECT HIGH TOUCH AREAS AS NEEDED. AMBASSADOR STARTING WAGE COMPENSATION WAS INCREASED TO SUPPORT LIVING WAGE FOR TEAM MEMBERS. DAP FUNDS AN APD NIGHTTIME SHIFT SUPERVISOR THURSDAY-SATURDAY IN DOWNTOWN TO COORDINATE POLICE PRESENCE AT NIGHTLIFE VENUES, COMMUNICATE CONCERNS TO DAP STAFF, AND PROVIDE DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE DISTRICT. THE TOTAL FOR CONTRACTED OFFICERS WAS $37,832.00. DAP COLLECTS CRIME DATA FROM WEEKLY APD REPORTS AND THE ONLINE CRIME MAPPING SYSTEM TO LOOK FOR PATTERNS, REVISE THE DEPLOYMENT OF AMBASSADORS OR CONTRACTED OFFICERS, AND SEND ADVISORIES TO THE DISTRICT.WITH HELP FROM A GRANT FROM CORBIN FOUNDATION, DAP AMBASSADORS PLACED AND MAINTAINED 269 HANGING BASKETS, PLANTER BOXES AND SIDEWALK PLANTERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. WE ALSO PLANTED THE NORTH HIGH PARKLET AND A SUSTAINABLE, POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY GREENSCAPE IN THE NORTHSIDE. THIS MORE THAN $100,000 INVESTMENT WAS DESIGNED COLLABORATIVELY WITH DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS, DAP STAFF, AND KEEP AKRON BEAUTIFUL WITH WHOM DAP CONTRACTS TO MAINTAIN 8 ADDITIONAL IN-GROUND DISPLAYS DOWNTOWN. IN 2023, DAP CONTINUED THE INTEGRATION OF NATIVE PERENNIALS AND SMALL TREES INTO THE DISPLAYS TO PROVIDE SEASONAL INTEREST AND A MORE SUSTAINABLE GREENSCAPE.THROUGHOUT THE 2022-23FY, DAP STRENGTHENED AND GREW OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES WITH THE HELP OF PEG'S FOUNDATION TO WORK TOWARD TRANSITIONING DOWNTOWN'S UNSHELTERED POPULATION TO PERMANENT HOUSING. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES EDUCATING DAP STAFF AND AMBASSADORS IN ENGAGING PEOPLE IN CRISIS, UNDERSTANDING ACCESS TO AVAILABLE SUPPORT SERVICES, COLLABORATIVE TOURS THROUGH THE DISTRICT, AND INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS. BETWEEN 7/1/2022 AND 6/30/2023, 9 INDIVIDUALS HAVE TRANSITIONED INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. DAP MAINTAINS TOWPATH WAYFINDING SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR AND CREATES MAPS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO CONNECT VISITORS TO DOWNTOWN. DAP ALSO CONTRACTED WITH OHIO GOOSE PATROL TO DEPLOY A DOG PATROL AND OTHER MEASURES TO HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF GEESE DOWNTOWN.

KNIGHT INITIATIVES:KNIGHT FOUNDATION FUNDS WERE DEPLOYED TOWARD TACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS, PLANNING, PROGRAMMING AND CAPACITY SUPPORT WHEN AND WHERE NEEDED. THE WORK SUCCESSFULLY INSPIRED NEW PUBLIC REALM INVESTMENTS, ENHANCED INVESTMENTS ALREADY IN PROGRESS, ACTIVATED PUBLIC SPACE AND CULTIVATED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. BY CO-DECIDING WHEN AND WHERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS WORK WERE BEST SUITED FOR DAP INVOLVEMENT, WE MAXIMIZED THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF KNIGHT SUPPORT. KEY OUTCOMES INCLUDE:1. CREATE SEVEN SIGNATURE EVENTS TO BRING PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN, INCLUDING FALL FEST, DIWALI, SMELLS LIKE SNOW COFFEE FESTIVAL, LUNAR NEW YEAR, SAKURA CELEBRATION, JUNETEENTH AND THE COURTYARD CLASSIC PRESENTED BY NIKE.2. CREATE PUBLIC SPACE PLACEMAKING IMPROVEMENTS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN CASCADE PLAZA AND ON THE NIHF STEM SCHOOL PLAZA.3. PROGRAM CASCADE PLAZA AND OTHER SPACES WITH WELLNESS, CONCERTS AND SKATE NIGHTS WITH A FOCUS ON MIXING IN PLACE.4. SUPPORT DOWNTOWN PLANNING THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN VISION AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022+.5. IMPROVE DOWNTOWN PERCEPTIONS THROUGH STORYTELLING, GUIDES AND MARKETING INITIATIVES.6. IMPROVE MAIN ST AND LOCK 3 WINTERSCAPE THROUGH INSTALLATION OF HOLIDAY LIGHTING.7. SUPPORT DAP CAPACITY THROUGH INTERNS, CONSULTANTS, AND PROGRAMMING STAFF TO ACCOMPLISH THE BODY OF WORK.8. SUSTAIN THE DOWNTOWN PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE.9. ENGAGE MS CONSULTANTS TO ASSIST IN THE DOWNTOWN AKRON SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT RENEWAL.KNIGHT SUPPORT WAS USED IN MULTIPLE INSTANCES TO GUIDE PUBLIC REALM INVESTMENT THROUGH PLANNING AND CONSULTANTS, AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT THROUGH STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, DAP CAME ALONGSIDE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO INTEGRATE BEST PRINCIPLES INTO PUBLIC SPACES AND, IN SOME CASES, HELP MATERIALIZE THOSE PLANS AND PROGRAM THOSE SPACES. QUANTIFYING THOSE INVESTMENTS AND AUDIENCES ENGAGED HELPS US DEMONSTRATE THE BROAD IMPACT OF THE WORK.KNIGHT PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITY IS SUPPORTED BY A MULTIYEAR GRANT FROM THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION. REVENUE WAS RECEIVED THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR THIS WORK, AND CARRIED OVER FROM LAST YEAR AS WELL. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED FOR DOWNTOWN PLANNING. REVENUE RECEIVED FOR THIS WORK IS LISTED UNDER CONTRIBUTED INCOME IN THE 990.

MEMBER OUTREACH & SUPPORT:AS THE CENTER OF OUR URBAN CORE, THE SUCCESS OF DOWNTOWN PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF OUR REGION. STOREFRONT BUSINESSES SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN ECOSYSTEM THROUGH EMPLOYMENT, IMPROVING SAFETY, RETAINING TALENT, ADDING CHARACTER AND VIBRANCY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.DAP WORKS WITH MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE DOWNTOWN AS A VALUABLE PLACE. THROUGH STRATEGIC MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT OF DOWNTOWN RESOURCES, DAP PROMOTES THE DISTRICT AS THE PREMIER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN THE CENTER OF OUR CITY.DAP ALSO WORKED WITH BAKER MEDIA GROUP TO CREATE THE 2022 DOWNTOWN LOOK BOOK, WHICH, LIKE THE 2021 EDITION, IS A PRIMARILY PICTORIAL 10-PAGE BOOK. DAP WORKED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS TO DEMONSTRATE IN A VIBRANT, ENGAGING WAY THAT DOWNTOWN AKRON IS A PLACE WHERE ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOME. THE GUIDE SUPPLEMENTED THE SEPTEMBER 2022 EDITION OF AKRON LIFE MAGAZINE, AND 7,500 ADDITIONAL COPIES ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND IN SELECT HOTELS AND REST AREAS IN NORTHEAST OHIO.IN FALL 2022, DAP PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF AKRON TO PROMOTE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES THROUGH THE FALL IN LOVE WITH AKRON PASSPORT. AFTER THE FALL IN LOVE WITH AKRON PASSPORT WRAPPED, DAP LAUNCHED THE FIRST OF THREE ENJOY SCENIC DOWNTOWN AKRON PASSPORTS IN DECEMBER. ENJOY SCENIC DOWNTOWN AKRON WILL PROMOTE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT 2023, FOCUSING ON SHOPPING, RESTAURANTS AND EXPERIENCES. ADDITIONAL ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDED 13 PRINT ADS REACHING THOUSANDS OF READERS.DOWNTOWNAKRON.COM UNIQUE USERS: 86,162, SESSIONS: 11,011, PAGEVIEWS: 377,716FACEBOOK LIKES: 12,757X FOLLOWERS: 9,487INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 7,795LINKEDIN FOLLOWERS: 2,392CONSTANT CONTACT ENEWS SUBSCRIBERS: 18,631AKRON STOCK PHOTOS: 3,300+QUARTERLY UPDATES WERE PRODUCED IN APRIL, JULY, OCTOBER AND JANUARY. ALL ISSUES ARE HOUSED ON THE DAP WEBSITE.DISTRICT MEETINGS - THROUGH 2022-23, DAP HOSTED QUARTERLY DISTRICT MEETINGS TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT DOWNTOWN PROJECTS AND EVENTS, FACILITATE SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES AND PROVIDE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. AVERAGE ATTENDANCE WAS 15 PEOPLE PER MEETING.