The extension follows the completion of a pilot project last year that both Downtown Grand Rapids Inc and the City of Grand Rapids partnered on.
The patrols consisted of a team of two uniformed security personnel who conducted patrols throughout the City Center. The team coordinated their efforts with the Homeless Outreach Team, the Downtown Ambassador Program and helped alert the Grand Rapids Police Department of any issues.
Melvin Eledge, the Director of Operations for Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., told DDA board members the pilot program was a success and was rebooted this Spring.
Asked during Wednesday’s board meeting why the program has been so successful, Eledge said the increase in uniform presence has been helpful for both the Homeless Outreach Team and the ambassador program.
“[The programs] have an additional set of hands to rely on, so the ambassadors… can use the security rather to help with incidents of large people, gatherings and crowds and things like that,” he said.
Eledge said renewing the contract, which totals $57,120, allows the program to run through the summer and end at the end of Art Prize this year.
The Downtown Development Authority board approved the renewal with Phenix Security.