DOWNTOWN DASHBOARD
More than 40 ambassadors work for Downtown Cincinnati. With training in public safety, enhanced cleanliness and customer service, they patrol the streets on foot, cleaning sidewalks and alleys and providing guides, maps and friendly assistance to visitors. Please note that the numbers below include work done year-to-date in two separate improvement districts: the Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District (DCID) and the Over-the-Rhine South Special Improvement District (OTR South SID). Scroll down to learn how their hard work has impacted our city (data year to date through July 15, 2025).
ENVIRONMENT
Downtown ambassadors are committed to keeping the city clean through a variety of ongoing tasks including the removal of unpleasant and unsightly items from walkways and walls, power washing high-traffic areas, and more.
BEAUTIFICATION
In addition to keeping the city clean, downtown ambassadors are also committed to keeping Cincinnati beautiful through a number of ongoing beautification efforts. From planting trees and flowers to replacing lightbulbs, the ambassador team remains dedicated to making the city a more visually appealing and desirable place for all.
OUTREACH
Downtown Cincinnati works with Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) to provide four full-time Outreach Workers in the urban core, along with a fifth seasonal worker, who engages with clients from May through October. Outreach Workers have the ability to provide assistance to individuals on the street, regardless of their location, mental state, sobriety, or housing situation. The GeneroCity 513 Outreach Workers supplement the outreach work being done by GCBHS’s PATH Team to help our neighbors in need.
JOBS VAN
Part of the GeneroCity 513 initiative, the Jobs Van operates three days per week, picking up 10 individuals each day and transporting them to a predetermined route near downtown. The Jobs Van program offers a positive alternative to panhandling and helps connect panhandlers to social service agencies that provide opportunities for shelter, employment, and mental health and substance abuse services. Pick-ups are made at various locations in downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine. Participants engage in community beautification efforts and are provided a free lunch during their shift. At the conclusion of their shift, participants are paid $9/hour in cash for their labor.
