Posted 7 months ago
Press contact: Ariella Gibson | Director of Marketing and Communications, Chicago Loop Alliance Ariella@ChicagoLoopAlliance.com | 708-543-4002
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 3, 2024
CHICAGO— Today, Chicago Loop Alliance announces a four-month expansion of the Chicago Loop Alliance Ambassador Program, which typically focuses primarily on State Street, to patrol the central Loop from Dearborn to Canal and Ida B. Wells to Wacker, beginning June 3. Chicago Loop Alliance contracts the ambassador program through Streetplus, a national clean and safe service provider, and will patrol the expanded corridor area during afternoons and evenings, five days a week. State Street Ambassadors will continue their patrol seven days a week. Program details are available for the public here.
“Chicago Loop Alliance Ambassadors provide essential services of safety and hospitality that create a sense of stability for Loop residents, workers and visitors, building confidence in the Loop,” said Michael Edwards, President and CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance. “In its third year of expansion, our team’s excellent track record is evidenced by the reimplementation of the Corridor Ambassador program throughout vital Chicago neighborhoods.”
The Corridor Ambassador program is made possible through a Department of Planning and Development grant, part of an effort for equitable economic recovery and support for thriving and safe communities, as well as the Central City Recovery Roadmap. Chicago Loop Alliance Ambassadors have patrolled State Street as they have since 2014. The Corridor Ambassador program began in 2022, modeled after Chicago Loop Alliance’s longstanding program, not only for the summer expansion in the Loop but also in many other community areas throughout the city.
“Chicago Loop Alliance’s ambassador program successfully showcases community-centric tactics that support neighborhood vitality," said Chicago Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Ciere Boatright. "The program will also help prepare for the influx of visitors to Lollapalooza, NASCAR and the Democratic National Convention."
Chicago Loop Alliance Ambassadors will continue to wear yellow and black uniforms while they provide directions; greet and engage visitors, workers, and residents; conduct business check-ins; observe and report negative behavior; provide information on wayfinding for those shopping, dining, and exploring; and assist individuals in need of social services or experiencing homelessness. The unarmed ambassadors receive training in de-escalation tactics and serve as a deterrent to unwanted behavior and illegal activity in an effort of violence prevention throughout the community.
The Chicago Loop Alliance Ambassador program primarily services State Street Special Service Area #1-2015 (SSA #1-2015), which includes State Street from Ida B. Wells to Wacker Drive and select portions of Wabash Avenue and Dearborn Avenue. Those areas will continue receiving their patrols through funding from SSA #1-2015.
About Chicago Loop Alliance
Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA)’s mission is to lead the community by creating and supporting inclusive programs that attract people and investment to the Loop. CLA is a membership organization as well as the sole service provider for Special Service Area#1-2015, and the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation produces public art projects and events. For more information, please visit LoopChicago.com.
About Streetplus
Streetplus has been providing cleaning, safety, and hospitality services to improvement districts throughout the United States since 1991 and currently provides its signature clean, safe, and friendly services to over 90 different districts. Streetplus has been proudly supporting the Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA), Special Services Area #1 since 2013. Streetplus’ professionally trained Street Teams of Cleaning and Safety Ambassadors are an integral part of the fabric of daily life, helping to foster the growth of a vibrant urban experience that is at the heart of the CLA’s mission. The Streetplus Street Teams focus on public safety issues like hospitality, panhandling and homelessness, liaise with the Chicago Police Department to address nuisance crimes and augment the City Department of Streets & Sanitation to help keep the streets clean, healthy, and safe.
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