DOWNTOWN RALEIGH ALLIANCE INC

THE DOWNTOWN RALEIGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SAFETY, AND SOCIAL SERVICES OUTREACH PROGRAM FOSTERS A WELCOMING AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN DOWNTOWN THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF SAFETY AMBASSADORS WHO PATROL THE PUBLIC REALM WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES DISTRICT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THE SAFETY AMBASSADORS ALSO PROVIDE A STRONG, UNIFORMED PRESENCE, ENHANCING THE SENSE OF SAFETY WITH THEIR PATROLS OF THE MUNICIPALLY-OWNED PARKING DECKS AND LOTS. CLAD IN HIGHLY VISIBLE BLUE UNIFORMS AND EQUIPPED WITH HAND-HELD RADIOS, THE SAFETY AMBASSADORS SERVE AS SUPPLEMENTARY "EYES AND EARS" FOR THE DOWNTOWN DIVISION OF THE RALEIGH POLICE DEPARTMENT.IN ADDITION, THE AMBASSADOR TEAM CONTINUES TO INCREASE INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ONGOING INFORMATIONAL AND SAFETY PRESENTATIONS FOR BUSINESSES AND STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, PREPARING NEW EMPLOYEES MOVING INTO DOWNTOWN RALEIGH, AND HOLDING MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THE RALEIGH POLICE DISTRICT CAPTAIN TO STRATEGIZE WAYS TO LOWER CRIME. THIS PROACTIVE APPROACH HELPS BUILD TRUST AND COLLABORATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.THE DOWNTOWN AMBASSADORS PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:BUSINESS CHECK-INSHOT SPOT CHECKSSAFE WALKSHOSPITALITY ASSISTANCE (INCLUDING DINING RECOMMENDATIONS, DIRECTIONS, AND MOTORIST ASSISTANCE)DIRECTIONSMOTORIST ASSISTSSAFETY AMBASSADORS DECK PATROLS

THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THE STOREFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ARE TO CONTRIBUTE TO DOWNTOWN RALEIGH'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS BY ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES TO VACANT STOREFRONTS, PROVIDING MARKET DATA TO ATTRACT NEW INVESTMENT AND EMPLOYERS, AND OFFERING NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO A DIVERSE SET OF BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS. DRA MONITORS PEDESTRIAN COUNTERS IN DOWNTOWN TO MEASURE FOOT TRAFFIC, HELPING TO ATTRACT TENANTS AND AID LAND USE DECISIONS. DRA CONTINUED ITS UPFIT GRANT WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING AN INCENTIVE TO ATTRACT NEW RETAIL OR AID IN THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING RETAIL IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF RALEIGH, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF ACTIVELY WORKS WITH RETAIL BROKERS AND LANDLORDS TO FILL STOREFRONT SPACES IN DOWNTOWN WHICH ADDS NEW JOBS AND EXPANDS TAX REVENUES. DRA CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH WAKE TECH TO PROVIDE POP-UP SPACE FOR MINORITY- AND WOMEN-OWNED RETAIL BUSINESSES. THE ECONOMIC DATA AND ANALYSIS TRACKED EACH YEAR IS TRANSLATED INTO DRA'S STATE OF DOWNTOWN REPORT. THE REPORT INCLUDES MARKET TRENDS, POPULATION DATA AND PROJECTIONS, DATA ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, AND OVERVIEWS OF EVERYTHING DOWNTOWN. THE REPORT COMPLEMENTS OUR STATE OF DOWNTOWN ANNUAL EVENT, ATTENDED BY DOWNTOWN'S TOP BUSINESS LEADERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.DRA ALSO CONDUCTS PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY IN DOWNTOWN RELATED TO BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, TRANSIT, AND PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE. DRA PROVIDED COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SUPPORT FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN ACCESSIBILITY, CHANGES TO DOWNTOWN PARKING, AND ADVOCACY FOR NEW BIKE LANES IN DOWNTOWN.DOWNTOWN RALEIGH ALLIANCE'S MARKETING EFFORTS SHARE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, BRING VISIBILITY TO THE ORGANIZATION AND THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY, AND POSITION DOWNTOWN RALEIGH AS A VIBRANT CITY CENTER.DRA'S COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROGRAM WEBSITES, EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS INCLUDING FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, X, AND LINKEDIN.MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, INCLUDING BLOGS TO HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL AND AFFINITY CELEBRATIONS SUCH AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, RETAIL PROMOTIONS SUCH AS RESTAURANT WEEK AND HOLIDAY HUB, AND EVENT-SPECIFIC PROMOTIONS FOR FIRST FRIDAY, ILLUMINATE ART WALK, LIVE AFTER 5, AND OTHERS GARNERED NEARLY 1 MILLION IMPRESSIONS ACROSS CHANNELS.