Downtown Business Improvement District Corporation

TO ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DOWNTOWN BID.

SAFETY - THE DOWNTOWN DC SAFETY PROGRAM HAS MADE THE DOWNTOWN ENVIRONMENT MORE INVITING AND INCREASED BOTH THE LEVEL AND THE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY ON THE DOWNTOWN STREETS, THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MAJOR FOCUS AREAS: SAFETY WORKERS PROVIDED VISIBLE, REASSURING PRESENCE ON THE STREETS WITH UNIFORMED FOOT PATROLS, WERE RADIO-EQUIPPED, AND PLACED A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON HOSPITALITY; IMPROVED POLICE SERVICES, BY DOWNTOWN WORKERS SERVING AS ADDITIONAL "EYES AND EARS AND BY ENHANCED COMMUNICATION, ONGOING COORDINATION AND SUPPORT WITH AND FOR ALL LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO IMPROVED ORDER MAINTENANCE, AND SERVED AS AN EFFECTIVE CRIME DETERRENT, THROUGH VISIBILITY AND CONSISTENT COVERAGE; DISSEMINATED SAFETY AND SECURITY-RELATED INFORMATION, PROVIDING A FORUM TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION, AND TO INCREASE THE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY ON THE DOWNTOWN STREETS.

MAINTENANCE - DOWNTOWN MAINTENANCE TEAMS PROVIDED SIDEWALK AND CURB CLEANING, TRASH BAGGING, AND REMOVAL OF LITTER IN ALL 110 BLOCKS OF THE DOWNTOWN BID, PLACING SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON HEAVILY TRAVELED PEDESTRIAN AREAS, ESPECIALLY ON AFTERMATH OF MAJOR EVENTS. THE HEAVY MAINTENANCE CREW UTILIZED STREET CLEANING EQUIPMENT IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, PAINTED LIGHT POLES, UTILITY BOXES AND TRASH RECEPTACLES, AND MADE MINOR REPAIRS, ON A DAILY SCHEDULE. STREET-LEVEL GRAFFITI AND ILLEGAL POSTERS WERE REMOVED OR PAINTED OVER WITHIN 24 HOURS OF REPORT.

HOMELESS - DBID PROVIDE DAY SERVICES CENTER FOR INDIVIDUAL ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESS TO PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, WELLNESS, RECOVERY AND EMPLOYMENT. THE OUTREACH TEAM ALSO CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS DOWNTOWN WITH THE DOWNTOWN DAY SERVICES CENTER TO SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING. FOR THE STAKEHOLDER, THE BID ADDRESS PUBLIC SPACE CLEANLINESS AND DEFECTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOMELESS OUTREACH EFFORTS AND BUILDING/LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE THE STREETSCAPE AND ENCOURAGE ORDERLINESS. THE BID CONTRACTS WITH SASHA BRUCE YOUTHWORK TO OPERATE THE YOUTH DROP-IN CENTER LOCATED AT 925 G STREET, NW. DOWNTOWN IS GATHERING PLACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESS WHO ARE DISINCLINED TO SEEK OUT ADULT SHELTERS OR SERVICE CENTERS.

THE DOWNTOWNDC BID'S PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM WAS A GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED IN THE FIRST CALENDAR QUARTER OF 2021 AND WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GRANTS OF $5,500 TO $15,000 IN GRANTS TO DOWNTOWNDC BID SMALL RETAIL BUSINESSES AND ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS. THE GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORTED BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONTINUED TO OPERATE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND EXPERIENCED A GREATER THAN 25% REVENUE DECLINE FROM PRE-PANDEMIC SALES, AND THE GRANTEES SHOWED REVENUE REDUCTIONS OF 25% TO OVER 90% FROM PRE-PANDEMIC SALES.