A Cleaner Downtown is More Important than Ever
During the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty of whether a doorknob is disinfected can cause anxious feelings. Cleaning and sanitation have become more important than ever. Our Clean Team Ambassadors will be here to create ease of mind by being a highly visible presence in downtown Rochester starting July 1. Let's hear from Jeff Heinrich with Block by Block, the national vendor selected for downtown Rochester's Clean and Safe Ambassador Program, why these programs are a vital and essential service.
What are you most looking forward to about working in downtown Rochester?
I have worked with Block by Block for over 12 years and have seen the impact that Clean and Safe Ambassador programs can make in downtowns across this country, both large and small. Being from southern Minnesota and knowing what a valuable part of the state Rochester is, I am incredibly excited to see how we will be able to work with the community to continue to improve downtown Rochester.
What are the most impactful things you see Clean and Safe Ambassador Programs offering in response to COVID-19?
I would like to say that everything we are doing right now is impactful and it all plays an important role in getting our downtowns back to whatever the new normal will be. That being said, I think the most important thing we are doing is keeping our downtowns clean and ready for their eventual re-opening, while being a reassuring presence for the businesses, residents, and visitors, that we are being more vigilant than ever before when it comes to cleanliness.
What are some creative things you’ve seen other cities doing to adapt their Clean and Safe Ambassador Program to COVID-19?
I’m going to creatively answer your question and talk about a silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic from an operational perspective. Across the country, as cities were ordered to stay at home, and our services were deemed essential, the typical daily work of litter removal has decreased significantly. This has allowed us to focus on projects that will have a lasting impact throughout our downtowns such as painting light poles, freshening up of landscaping, larger scale projects, etc. These are a bit more difficult for us to achieve on a daily basis during “normal” operations.
Overall, I am extremely proud of our teams across the country who have continued to work hard while dealing with the physical and mental stress that this pandemic has caused us as a nation. This hasn’t been easy on anyone, and our Ambassadors have risen to the challenge and continued to work hard to make their communities a better place for everyone to enjoy.
Look for the Clean Team Ambassadors in their bright orange shirts July 1, and stay tuned here for more information about this growing program.