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2022 to 2023 Highlights of Downtown Improvement District

Green & Clean

  • Hired full-time gardener fall of 2021
  • Designed and replanted over 60 sidewalk beds across Downtown
  • Purchased a new 2021 Kubota Utility vehicle with attachments: rotary broom & blade
  • Purchased a new used 2015 Polaris Ranger 900EPS
  • Created and implemented an online inventory of the sidewalk beds in Downtown with additional information on responsible maintainer party
  • 7 tree stumps removed
  • 1 Kentucky Coffee Tree planted
  • Hired additional clean team personnel fall of 2022
  • Purchased of 10 new iron trashcans in the Old Market historic district. 18 plastic trashcans were purchased offered to businesses
  • Implemented MaintainX a software platform to track work orders for crew
  • 5 dog stations added within Downtown
  • Building relationship with Keep Omaha Beautiful
  • 9 new cigarette towers purchased along with being awarded 10 through a grant

Activation

  • Designed and printed postcards with QR code to event newsletter and maps in hotels, visitor centers, businesses
  • Designed and printed Downtown Art Gallery Rack cards for Visitor’s center and galleries
  • Held an online Community Forum regarding Downtown Improvements
  • Engaged Downtown residents with an informational mailer and invitation to a social held by Old Market Association
  • Raised funds with an online auction and applied for grants to maintain Holiday Lights in the Old Market
  • Social Media Webinar held for busy business owners

Security

  • Extended Holiday lighting during the winter time for increase safety during Daylight Savings
  • MECA’s security head joined committee for updates from The RiverFront
  • City of Omaha’s Homeless Coordinator joined committee
  • Applied for grants to coordinate an effort to improve lighting in alleyways with an Alleyway Lighting Pilot Project
  • Hosted a Homelessness Information Security Forum in early 2021 with plans to host a follow up with City Coordinator
  • Created daily reports for our Lion’s Gate Security officers to fill out to collect data and see trends

Advocacy

  • Applied for CIP funds through City for alley resurfacing ($700K) and tree work ($30k)
  • Publicizing a public restroom being built in Gene Leahy Mall at The Riverfront
  • Invited the City sidewalk inspector to walk the district and encourage property owners to repair sidewalks; the City moved forward with correcting sidewalks that haven't been fixed yet
  • Implemented a resource page on OldMarket.com
  • Cut down on some operating expenses - Internet, IT extended support, website support
  • Utilized an electronic online voting system to conduct the board elections for 2023 – 2027 seats

Foundation

  • Retainer for grant writer
  • Awarded Grants:
    • America in Bloom - $15,000 for replanting downtown flower beds
    • Keep America Beautiful – 10 Cigarette towers
  • Grants applied for:
    • Visitor’s Incentive Fund for Holiday Lights
    • Mayor’s Neighborhood Grant for trees
    • Omaha Community Foundation for Alleyway Lighting Pilot Project
    • Storz Foundation for art wraps on utility boxes
    • Burlington Capital for tree bed guards
    • OPPD Greener Together for tree guards
    • Quadratec “Energize the Environment” Grant for trees and tree guards
    • Bloomberg Public Art Challenge for Imagine OmahART 16th art wraps on utility boxes