Programs & Advocacy
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Creating programs and initiatives that increase the vibrancy of our community is something we do year-round. This brings new visitors into downtown while stimulating economic development of our downtown businesses and creating an enjoyable place full of a variety of activities for residents of our community.
We take pride that no other neighborhood in or around Anchorage can provide a more unique and diverse experience, on a consistent basis.
Sponsor a Trash Can Downtown!
If you’re interested in sponsoring or need assistance with artwork, please contact Jennifer Adams at jen.ancartist@gmail.com.
For additional information, please contact us at info@anchoragedowntown.org.
Click HERE to view a PDF of the sponsorship packet.
Winter City Lighting
Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd. and our downtown partner organizations have identified increased lighting as a key issue in improving public safety in Anchorage, especially in the dark winter months and when there is little snow to reflect existing light. Adding exterior lights to businesses and residences is an easy and effective way to increase safety and walkability of the city during the wintertime. In addition, the extra light creates an inviting atmosphere into business storefronts encouraging shoppers and locals to visit and shop at our small, local businesses.
The City of Lights is a longtime tradition in Anchorage, starting in 1994, where residents and business owners were encouraged to display white lights on their buildings throughout the winter, while light poles on streets and sidewalks were wrapped with lights to enhance visibility and holiday spirit on major thoroughfares. In recent years the program was cut because of budget constraints.
In 2020, to safely celebrate the season as a community, our annual Holiday Tree Lighting event moved to a month-long light up activation: Light Up Downtown. Proudly sponsored by ConocoPhillips-Alaska, and generously supported by Kendall Toyota of Anchorage, Alaska Airlines, Chugach Electric, Beacon Media, Anchorage Parks and Recreation, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Gage Tree Services, Alaska Concert Association, and iHeartMedia Inc., Light Up Downtown symbolizes our community coming together to find the light in a difficult time.
Mural Creation

The 4th Avenue Theatre is the iconic downtown building, located in the heart of historic 4th Avenue. The Theatre currently lacks a tenant and fell victim to vandalism over the past winter. In order to help put a brighter face on this icon of downtown until a new tenant can be found for the building, Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd. worked with local photographers and the University of Alaska to compile historic photos of the Theatre and 4th Avenue that could be blown up into larger than life murals covering the previously boarded-up doors and windows.
The finished mural project, printed and co-sponsored by Graphic Works, is already a huge hit along 4th Avenue. Sponsors of the mural project include: Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd., Peach Investments LLC, Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau, Polar Bear Gifts, Anchorage City Trolley Tours, and MA’s Gourmet Dogs.
Click here to view photos of the mural project.
Facade Improvements

As a core value, Anchorage Downtown Partnership assists Downtown property owners to help improve the cleanliness and outward appearance of downtown; to help decrease crime; to increase occupancy rates, investment values and lease income; and to generally stimulate economic development and improve the quality of life in downtown.
We supports the concept that design, brand and outward appearance of our community impacts our visitors view of whether downtown Anchorage is a vibrant, unique and welcoming neighborhood. We encourage our downtown stakeholders to take pride in their buildings and Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd. is always looking for grants and partnerships to assist property owners to keep their facades up to date, clean and welcoming.
We provide supplemental services such as graffiti removal to assist property and business owners in keeping their storefronts clean and kept.
We provide recommendations for exterior lighting to create a safer environment for downtown businesses, residents and visitors.
Space Activation for Parks & Public Spaces: Anchorage Downtown Placemaking
During the first two summers of the program, over 150 small scale events were held in Town Square Park and Peratrovich Park, including regular weekly fitness classes, concerts, theater performances, buskers, art displays and more! To see photos and up to date updates on Placemaking events, visit the Facebook page.
Graffiti & Sticker Removal
Working in close cooperation with the Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd. Security & Maintenance Ambassadors are trained to spot and report graffiti. We also encourage downtown property owners, business owners, and residents to assist in keeping downtown graffiti-free. If you see graffiti, we encourage you to follow the process outlined below.
- As soon as you see Graffiti on or around your property, please call our Maintenance Ambassadors at (907) 277-0141 (or leave a message) and provide:
- Your Name and Company/Business
- A phone number where you can be reached
- Exact location of the Graffiti
- Once ADP receives the call, a maintenance ambassador will be dispatched to take a picture of the Graffiti.
- Once we have the picture of the Graffiti, we will file a complaint with the Anchorage Police department on your behalf.
- Also, at that time a maintenance ambassador will be assigned to remove the graffiti within 24 business hours.
- We will attempt to remove the Graffiti with our Graffiti removal products. If unsuccessful we will ask the Property manager/owner to get us matching paint and we will paint over the Graffiti. Note: we prefer paint that has been supplied by the property or business owner, but we will try to match our paint as close as possible if directed to from the property/business owner.
Thank you for helping us keep downtown Anchorage Clean, Safe, & Vital.
Security & Maintenance Ambassadors
Security Ambassadors
As the “eyes and ears” of Downtown, Security Ambassadors (SAs) serve and assist local businesses and our thousands of visitors as they patrol the streets.
Security Ambassadors provide a helping hand by assisting emergency services personnel with traffic accidents, intervening with youth at risk, and by providing helpful directions.
Working closely with Anchorage Police and other emergency response services, the Security Ambassadors have become a vital part of making downtown Anchorage a better – and safer – place.
Maintenance Ambassadors
The Maintenance Team provides supplemental services for downtown Anchorage within the approximately 126 blocks of the DID. You can see them on the street picking up trash, responding to graffiti, or at one of the many events that take place throughout downtown.
Maintenance Ambassadors provide services designed to:
- Maintain a clean, attractive and orderly downtown.
- Ensure downtown Anchorage as the best place to live, work, shop, and play.
- Provide assistance for public space maintenance issues.
- Serve as Ambassadors of downtown for visitors, residents, businesses, and property owners.
- Partner with public entities in enhancing our community-based quality of life.
Maintenance Ambassadors are easily recognizable in their orange work wear and work 7 days a week to enhance cleanliness and aid in snow removal within the DID. The entire DID is cleaned daily on foot, or with various maintenance equipment, including trucks, RTVs, tractors, Sweepsters, Honda four-wheelers, and numerous other walk-behind sweepers, snowblowers and vacuums.
Maintenance Ambassadors also utilize Community Work Service workers to maximize both perceptions of and actual cleaning in the DID. In addition, a partnership with the Veterans’ Industries and Assets, Inc. allows Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd. to reintegrate veterans into the work force, and to provide an avenue for Alaskans with disabilities to solve their employment needs and live independently.
Economic Development
To learn more about specific tools and resources available, head to Economic Development.
Marketing for Downtown
Part of Anchorage Downtown Partnership’s efforts into keeping downtown Anchorage vibrant is to market downtown and create marketing promotions to assist our member businesses.
The downtown marketing committee operates off of a marketing plan that was developed to help market different areas of downtown from parking to dining to tourism.
Experience is marketing. We also rely on those who visit and enjoy our community to assist with marketing through social media. This requires the marketing and creation of hashtags and marketing outlets to assist our visitors to use already created social media tags and hashtags.
Research and Development
We research other downtowns and improvement districts daily while also looking at best practices of other organizations in order to better our downtown. Looking at other improvement districts development of center cities and programs is inspiration for us to improve downtown Anchorage.
We look to our partner organizations who obtain research and statistics that impact our community in addition to using that information to look forward of what our economic future will look like as a downtown.
Crime and safety statistics from the Anchorage Police Department impact how our ambassador programs are reactive to the community needs and our membership base. We also use those statistics to help sway perceptions of our community.
Below is a list of research, development and statistics that we gather every day. We report on our statistics at every monthly membership meeting to our downtown stakeholders, in addition to our annual meeting. Having these statistics allows us to accurately speak about the state of downtown to the community.
Statistics that we consist track and report on include:
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Location and Availability of empty storefronts & retails space
IMPACT OF FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS
Economic Impact of Free Community Events
Number of Event Attendance
Perception of Cleanliness of Downtown During Events
Perception of Safety in Downtown During Events
Perception of Vibrancy of Downtown
Effectiveness of Marketing for Programs & Events
Percentage of New to Seasoned Visitors Who Came Downtown for Events & Programs
Demographics of Event Attendees
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
ADP Event Hours
Contracted Events
Contracted Event Hours
Greeter Station Setups
Greeter Station Setup Hours
Rental Hours
Contract Hours Clean
Contract Hours Safe
EQUIPMENT
ATV Miles
Kubota B3030HS Hours
Security Mule RTV Hours
Case DX 31 Hours
Dodge P/U Truck Miles
Tennant Vacuum Truck Hours
MAINTENANCE
Blocks Snow Removal
Pounds of Ice Melt Applied
Tons of Garbage Removed
Power Wash Hours
Blocks Power-Washed
Blocks Power-Swept
Graffiti Removed
Stickers/Poster Removed
Dump Areas Cleaned
Calls For Service
Service Calls Completed
Calls For Service (to MOA)
Service Calls Completed (by MOA)
SECURITY
Patrol Mileage
Security Checks
Welfare Checks
Request for Assistance
Info Services
Request APD
Request ASP
Request AFD
Public Intoxication
Drugs
Assaults/Fights
Panhandler Issues
Thefts Reported
Assist Police
Town Square Incidents
Brown Jug Theft Recovery
Trespassing
Loitering
Harassment
Disturbance
Urination
Sleeping
Mental Health Issue
Indecent Exposure
Camp Cleanups
Total Incidents
Banner Programs
Downtown Image
Also associated with this image are marketing programs and the creation of a new brand for downtown that Anchorage Downtown Partnership has been working on.