Portland Downtown, a 501c4 nonprofit Downtown Improvement District (DID), Offers Hotline
To Request Trash and Graffiti Removal, Needle Pick-Up Anywhere in the Downtown District
Portland Downtown, a 501c4 nonprofit Downtown Improvement District (DID) making the city cleaner, safer, and more welcoming for everyone, today announced implementation of a hotline to remove trash and graffiti, and pick up needles anywhere in the downtown district. The Portland Downtown Ambassador hotline will be administered through an online tool called SeeClickFix. Anyone can use the online tool to report or request an incident for clean up in Portland’s downtown district. Portland 311 SeeClickFix tickets will be assigned to Ambassadors for remediation. Requestors will be kept updated on the status of the request and notified when the request has been completed.
“Through our Downtown Ambassador Program, we are pleased to make Portland’s downtown district cleaner, safer, and welcoming for everyone,” said Cary Tyson, executive director, Portland Downtown. “Our Downtown Ambassadors are off to a solid start, providing much-needed services to supplement the City of Portland’s efforts.”
“As a Downtown Improvement District, Portland Downtown is uniquely positioned to help make Portland cleaner, safer, and welcoming for everyone,” said Mayor Mark Dion, City of Portland. “We welcome Portland Downtown’s support to help address our city’s current needs.” In addition to removing graffiti, waste, and picking up needles, the Downtown Ambassadors provide friendly hospitality services, offering directions and assisting with visitor needs, as well as general upkeep of the downtown area. The Downtown Ambassadors also act as extra eyes and ears, contributing to the overall sense of security and promoting a positive image of the downtown district. The Downtown Ambassadors work extended hours to provide supplemental coverage to the City of Portland, especially in the early morning, evening, and on weekends.
The Downtown Ambassador program includes eight locally staffed and trained individuals and an operations supervisor. Similar programs have been implemented with solid success across the country in cities such as Bangor, Boston, Manchester, Providence, Worcester, and many other urban cores across the country. Portland Downtown has contracted with Streetplus, a third-party expert in implementing Downtown Improvement District initiatives, to develop and implement a customized program for the downtown district. The Downtown Ambassadors will be seen in their brightly colored uniforms, particularly after traditional business hours.
The Downtown Ambassador program is part of Portland Downtown’s mission to stimulate a thriving, vibrant, and sustainable downtown district in which to live, do business, shop and visit. In recent years, Portland has swelled from 68,000 full-time residents to two million visitors and part-time residents in the summer.
Portland Downtown is funded through a special assessment paid by property owners in the downtown district—not a tax to the general population. Those dollars are required to be invested directly into improvements such as graffiti and trash removal and needle pick-up, among many others. Portland’s downtown district stretches from Longfellow Square to Franklin Street, with Cumberland Avenue as its northern boundary and the waterfront as its southern boundary.
About Portland Downtown
Portland Downtown is a 501c4 nonprofit Downtown Improvement District (DID) in Portland, Maine, making the city cleaner, safer, and more welcoming for everyone. Today, the city of Portland is well-established as a business, culinary and cultural center, and top travel destination. Portland Downtown stimulates a thriving, vibrant, and sustainable downtown district in which to live, do business, shop, and visit. For more information, visit https://portlandmaine.com/ or follow us on Facebook and
Instagram.
Press contact:
Elizabeth Horton, simmerpublicrelations@gmail.com
Portland Downtown contact:
Cary Tyson, LPM, Executive Director, Portland Downtown
(207) 772-6828
cary@portlandmaine.com
