DOWNTOWN AKRON PARTNERSHIP
103 S HIGH STREET 4TH FLOOR, AKRON, OH 44308 www.downtownakron.com

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Organizations Filed Purposes: PROMOTE AND BUILD A VIBRANT AND VALUABLE DOWNTOWN AKRON

CLEAN, SAFE & WELCOMING: DAP PROVIDES CLEANING AND SAFETY AMBASSADORS THROUGH OUR $391,186 CONTRACT WITH BLOCK BY BLOCK. DAP'S 10 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. DURING THE PANDEMIC, AMBASSADORS SHIFTED THEIR SERVICES TO FOCUS ON DISINFECTING HIGH TOUCH AREAS AND EXTENDING EVENING HOURS TO INCLUDE OVERNIGHT PATROLS. 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. DURING THE SHUTDOWN, DAP ADDED WEEKDAY AND SUNDAY PATROLS TO THIS SAFETY EFFORT TO ASSIST IN PROTECTING THE DISTRICT. THE TOTAL FOR CONTRACTED APD OFFICERS WAS $31,424. DAP COLLECTS CRIME DATA FROM WEEKLY APD REPORTS AND THE ONLINE LEXIS NEXIS COMMUNITY CRIME MAPPING SYSTEM TO LOOK FOR PATTERNS, REVISE THE DEPLOYMENT OF AMBASSADORS OR CONTRACTED OFFICERS, AND SEND ADVISORIES TO THE DISTRICT.THROUGH A GRANT FROM CORBIN FOUNDATION, DAP AMBASSADORS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS PLACED AND MAINTAINED 164 HANGING BASKETS, PLANTER BOXES AND SIDEWALK PLANTERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. THIS MORE THAN $100,000 INVESTMENT WAS DESIGNED COLLABORATIVELY WITH DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS, DAP STAFF, AND KEEP AKRON BEAUTIFUL WITH WHOM DAP CONTRACTS TO MAINTAIN ADDITIONAL IN-GROUND DISPLAYS DOWNTOWN. IN 2020, DAP INTEGRATED NATIVE PERENNIALS AND SMALL TREES INTO THE DISPLAYS TO PROVIDE SEASONAL INTEREST AND A MORE SUSTAINABLE GREENSCAPE. IN LATE 2020, DAP BEGAN A 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. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THE OUTCOMES OF THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP IN 2021. DAP MAINTAINS TOWPATH WAYFINDING SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR AND CREATES MAPS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO CONNECT VISITORS TO DOWNTOWN.

VIBRANCY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: MAIN STREET PHASE I - THE MAIN STREET CORRIDOR TRANSFORMATION, WHICH ENTERED PHASE II AT THE CLOSE OF 2020, IS ONE OF DOWNTOWN AKRON'S MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN A GENERATION. DAP IS PROUD TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECT WITH IMMEDIATE, SHORT AND LONG-TERM INITIATIVES INCLUDING: - FACILITATED CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CITY ENGINEERS, CONSTRUCTION TEAMS AND DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES- ATTENDED BIWEEKLY CONSTRUCTION MEETINGS TO COMMUNICATE DISTRICT NEEDS- PROVIDED TRAFFIC CLOSURE INFORMATION AND CLOSURE PLANNING ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES- AUDITED CONSTRUCTION SIGNAGE FOR ERRORS AND ADVOCATED FOR ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE- PROVIDED TEMPORARY SIGNAGE AS NEEDED- PROVIDED PRINT AND DIGITAL MARKETING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES- CLEARED CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS AND MATERIALS AS NEEDED- PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES TO EXPLORE DELIVERY SERVICE PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH DOORDASH- PROVIDED VALET SUPPORT TO THE MAIN/EXCHANGE STREET BUSINESSES- CREATED AKRON BEACON JOURNAL / OHIO.COM PROMOTIONS TO ADVERTISE SHOPPING LOCAL, MAKE IT TO MAIN LOCATIONS, AND EXPAND DAP'S E-NEWSLETTER LIST- CREATED AND DISTRIBUTED 5 MAKE IT TO MAIN SHORT VIDEOS PROMOTING SOUTH MAIN STREET BUSINESSES- IN 2019, DAP LED A GROUP OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DESIGN OF A NEW WAYFINDING SYSTEM FOR DOWNTOWN. THE $45,000 STUDY INCLUDED THE DESIGN OF SIGNAGE AND A PROGRAMMING PLAN FOR WAYFINDING FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT IN PHASES BEGINNING WITH THE NEW MAIN STREET. WAYFINDING WAS DESIGNED FOR PARKING GARAGES, VEHICULAR SIGNAGE AND PEDESTRIAN KIOSKS TO INCLUDE "HEADS UP" DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE AND A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF DESTINATIONS WHICH WILL BE MAINTAINED BY DAP ANNUALLY.- DAP ALSO SUPPORTED EXPANSION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF SIGNAGE ON MAIN STREET. USING $50,000 OF KNIGHT FOUNDATION SUPPORT, DAP MATCHED THE CITY'S $50,000 BUDGET TO ENSURE A ROBUST FIRST PHASE OF SIGNAGE IMPLEMENTATION. - ASSISTED WITH CLEARING CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS AS NEEDED- CREATED "HOW TO" VIDEO FOR SPIN SCOOTERS - INVESTED IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A WALKABLE STATE STREET BRIDGE DOWNTOWN DORA - THE CITY OF AKRON LAUNCHED ITS FIRST DESIGNATED OUTDOOR REFRESHMENT AREA (DORA) IN DOWNTOWN IN OCTOBER OF 2020. THE DORA ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO TAKE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OUTSIDE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DESIGNATED AREA. DAP ASSISTED WITH RESEARCH, ADVISING, DESIGN, SIGNAGE, COMMUNICATION AND PROGRAMMING THE DORA FROM PLAN TO IMPLEMENTATION. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DORA THROUGH AMBASSADOR SAFETY TOURS, PROGRAMMING, AND OVERSIGHT OF THE DORA CUP PROGRAM AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO DOWNTOWN VIBRANCY.BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - BUSINESS IS A VITAL PART OF THE DOWNTOWN ECOSYSTEM. FOR THIRTEEN YEARS, BUSINESS OUTREACH AND SUPPORT HAS BEEN PART OF DAP'S PORTFOLIO OF SERVICE. IN 2017, WE ESTABLISHED GOALS AND EVALUATION TOOLS TO HELP US SUPPORT AND GROW DOWNTOWN'S ECONOMY UNDER THE ADVISEMENT OF OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. DAP MEETS RETAILERS QUARTERLY, AND WITH PROFESSIONAL SERVICES NO LESS THAN BIANNUALLY, TO DETERMINE HOW WE MIGHT BEST HELP EACH BUSINESS SUCCEED. ADDITIONALLY, ELEVATE GREATER AKRON'S (EGA) BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION STRATEGY COMBINES WITH DAP'S OUTREACH EFFORTS TO BRING TOGETHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO BETTER SERVE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. DAP COMMITS A MINIMUM OF 2 HOURS OF EVERY WEEK TO THIS COORDINATED EFFORT. IN 2020, DAP MADE MORE THAN 75 REFERRALS TO RESOURCES WITHIN THE NORTHEAST OHIO ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM, SUCH AS ELEVATE GREATER AKRON, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, SEED CLINIC, AKRON URBAN LEAGUE, ECDI, HFLA OF NORTHEAST OHIO, BOUNCE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.THE DO BUSINESS PAGE OF THE DAP WEBSITE WAS REVAMPED TO HIGHLIGHT NEW COLLATERAL, WHICH INCLUDES THE BUSINESS BENEFITS AND WHY DOWNTOWN AKRON PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. DAP ALSO ADDED THE SITE SELECTION FORM TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS OF ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSES LOOKING FOR SPACE IN DOWNTOWN. DAP CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN DOWNTOWN AVAILABLE COMMERCIAL LISTINGS ON THE LOIS (LOCATION ONE INFORMATION SYSTEM) DATABASE ON DOWNTOWNAKRON.COM TO ENGAGE ENTREPRENEURS INTERESTED IN LOCATING THEIR BUSINESS DOWNTOWN. IN 2020, THE PLATFORM HAD 567 VISITORS, 1,004 SESSIONS, 5,472 PAGE VIEWS AND AN AVERAGE SESSION LENGTH OF 4:30 MINUTES. START DOWNTOWN - THE BURTON D. MORGAN FOUNDATION-FUNDED START UP RETAIL PROGRAM CONTINUED TO ENHANCE THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM IN 2019-20. PHASE 4 OF THE PROGRAM BENEFITED NEW BUSINESSES AS WELL AS ALUMNI OF THE PROGRAM. ELEVEN NEW BUSINESSES EMERGED IN PHASE 4 AND FIVE EXISTING BUSINESSES BENEFITED FROM A RETROACTIVE MARKETING INITIATIVE. THE PHASE 4 COHORT REFLECTS 44% WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES AND 13% BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR. EACH PHASE 4 BUSINESS RECEIVED 22 HOURS OF ASSISTANCE FROM DAP INCLUDING ENGAGEMENT, MARKETING AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS. DAP EXPENDED AN AVERAGE OF 7 HOURS OF ASSISTANCE TO EACH ALUMNI BUSINESS, FOCUSING ON THE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PROMOTIONAL RACK CARDS.AS OF DECEMBER 2019, A TOTAL OF 28 FULL-TIME AND 59 PART-TIME EMPLOYEES WERE ADDED TO THE DOWNTOWN WORKFORCE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. WITH THE COMPLETION OF PHASE 4, THE PROGRAM IN TOTAL HAS POSITIONED DOWNTOWN PROPERTIES TO GAIN $1,148,883 IN LEASE REVENUE OVER THE TERMS OF THE LEASES SIGNED. THE NET IMPACT OF THE PHASE 4 PARTICIPATION IS THE EMPOWERMENT OF 21 ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS 13 BUSINESSES. OF BUSINESSES SUPPORTED BY PHASE 4, 8 OF 11 REMAIN OPEN AT THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION, AND 16 OF 18 ENTREPRENEURS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO BUILD AND SCALE THEIR VENTURES. OF ALUMNI BUSINESSES, 5 CHOSE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM DAP IN CREATING PROMOTIONAL RACK CARDS. IN 2019, WE WELCOMED GROCERY GRABBERS, MINT HAIR COLLECTIVE, RUBBER CITY COMICS, THE EXPERIENCE BARBER & BEAUTY SHOP AND INDULGE CHOCOLATES TO DOWNTOWN AKRON.BURTON D. MORGAN FOUNDATION FUNDED PHASE 5 OF START DOWNTOWN (FORMERLY THE POP-UP RETAIL PROGRAM). THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE 5 WAS TEMPORARILY PAUSED BETWEEN MARCH AND JULY, DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. ONCE THE PROGRAM RESUMED, PHASE 5 BENEFITED TWO NEW BUSINESSES IN 2020. THE PHASE 5 COHORT REFLECTS 100% BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR - EVELYN'S COFFEE AND BANH MI AND PIGOUT PIZZA. EACH BUSINESS RECEIVED 15 HOURS OF ENGAGEMENT FROM DAP INCLUDING MARKETING AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS. AS OF DECEMBER 2020, A TOTAL OF 20 FULL TIME AND 37 PART TIME EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE DOWNTOWN WORKFORCE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT - ONE OF DOWNTOWN'S MOST ANTICIPATED PROJECTS, THE BOWERY, OPENED ITS DOORS IN 2020. THE RESIDENTIAL, MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT REVITALIZED THE CENTER OF DOWNTOWN ALONGSIDE RENOVATIONS TO THE AKRON CIVIC THEATRE. DAP CONDUCTED 14 VISITS WITH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TO HELP BETTER SERVE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS. PROGRAMMING DOWNTOWN: IN THE SUMMER OF 2019, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION, AKRON CIVIC COMMONS AND THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL, DAP PRESENTED LUNCHTIME CONCERTS AT CASCADE PLAZA ON FRIDAYS, FROM MAY THROUGH AUGUST, THURSDAY AFTER-WORK CONCERTS AT LOCK 3 AS PART OF LOCK NEXT DAP AS WELL AS SIDEWALK STAGE CONCERTS SUPPORTED BY PRITTENTERTAINMENT GROUP. SUMMER ON THE PLAZA AT CASCADE PLAZA CONTINUED TO DRAW VISITORS FROM DOWNTOWN AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. ZUMBA, DRUMFIT, MEDITATION, YOGA, ROLLER SKATING EVENTS, HAPPY HOUR EVENTS, SUMMER SELFIE PARTY, RAVE ON MAIN AND PECHA KUCHA WERE ADDED TO THE SEASON. GUESTS TO THE PLAZA ALSO ENJOYED FREE WIFI.

KNIGHT INITIATIVES: KNIGHT FOUNDATION FUNDS WERE DEPLOYED TOWARD TACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS, PLANNING, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND PROGRAMMING WHEN AND WHERE THEY WERE NEEDED. THE WORK SUCCESSFULLY INSPIRED NEW PUBLIC REALM INVESTMENTS, ENHANCED INVESTMENTS IN PROGRESS, MITIGATED IMPACTS OF CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY, AND CULTIVATED ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT OUR THREE-YEAR PARTNERSHIP. BY CO-DECIDING WHEN AND WHERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS WORK WERE BEST SUITED FOR DAP INVOLVEMENT, WE MAXIMIZED THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF KNIGHT SUPPORT. WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH MORE INITIATIVES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND MATCHING FUNDS THAT INCREASED DAP CAPACITY TO CONVENE STAKEHOLDERS AND WORK AS AN ALLY ACROSS SECTORS. KEY OUTCOMES INCLUDE:1. INVEST $95,000 IN DESIGN OF WAYFINDING SYSTEM AND MATCH OF CITY SIGNAGE INVESTMENT2. ESTABLISH A WALKABLE CONNECTION TO AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL THROUGH INVESTMENT OF MORE THAN $250,000 IN THE DESIGN AND RAILING INVESTMENT ON STATE ST BRIDGE3. ASSIST IN RETAIL INCUBATION THROUGH CONTRACTED EXPERTISE, POS INVESTMENT AND POP UP SUPPORT AT NORTHSIDE MARKETPLACE.4. CREATE PUBLIC SPACE PLACEMAKING IMPROVEMENTS AT NORTHSIDE GREEN, NORTH HIGH, LOCK NEXT AND STEM SCHOOL PLAZA5. IMPLEMENT MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO SUPPORTING MAIN ST BUSINESSES DURING CONSTRUCTION6. PROGRAM CASCADE PLAZA AND OTHER SPACES WITH FOCUS ON MIXING IN PLACE7. CREATE ITERATIVE DESIGN FOR LOCK 3 TO BRIDGE PROTOTYPING TO IMPLEMENTATION OF OLIN PLAN8. INCREASE DAP CAPACITY FOR PROGRAMMING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT THROUGH BIEDERMAN REDEVELOPMENT VENTURES9. IMPROVE DOWNTOWN WELCOMING THROUGH ART INTEGRATION INTO POLE BANNERS, BUS SHELTERS, STOREFRONT WINDOWS AND SPACE IMPROVEMENTS 10. SUPPORT DAP CAPACITY THROUGH INTERNS, CONSULTANTS AND STAFF SUPPORT TO ACCOMPLISH THE BODY OF WORK KNIGHT SUPPORT WAS USED IN MULTIPLE INSTANCES TO GUIDE PUBLIC REALM INVESTMENT THROUGH PLANNING AND CONSULTANTS, AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT THROUGH WORKSHOPS. THIS CAME AT A CRITICAL TIME IN THE ADVISING OF THE MAIN ST PROMENADE, DOWNTOWN WAYFINDING PLAN, STATE STREET BRIDGE, LOCK 3 ITERATIVE PLAN, DORA, AND UA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO CONVENED PROCESSES FOR DISTRICT SPACE IMPROVEMENTS (NORTHSIDE GREEN, NORTH HIGH, STEM PLAZA). 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 THE RESPECTIVE SPACES. QUANTIFYING THOSE INVESTMENTS AND AUDIENCES ENGAGED HELPS US DEMONSTRATE THE BROAD IMPACT OF THE WORK.

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