Since 1986, the Tampa Downtown Partnership has been working to enhance the quality of life in Tampa’s Downtown. We aim to provide workers, residents and visitors a clean, safe and dynamic neighborhood.
The Tampa Downtown Partnership administers the Special Services District (SSD) program through an annual contract with the City of Tampa. The Special Services District is the longest operating business improvement district in the State of Florida. It encompasses 1,192 aces and 337 blocks.
Since its inception in 1994, the SSD has provided services above and beyond the standard services provided by the City of Tampa. Funding for the SSD comes from an assessment placed on non-exempt property owners within the District. These programs and services make significant improvements in the way Downtown looks and operates.
The Partnership’s Downtown Ambassadors’ mission is to provide a safer, more accessible environment for people in downtown. The ambassadors help provide a safe and inviting Downtown environment through their role as on-street ambassadors. They help deter suspicious activity as Downtown’s additional eyes and ears, and offer a friendly “concierge” type service. The Downtown Ambassadors are unarmed public safety ambassadors, who are First Aid and CPR certified and work closely with the Tampa Police Department through the Downtown Security Network and Downtown Business Watch programs. They patrol the Special Service District (SSD) on foot and in a service vehicle. In an effort to streamline operations, the Downtown Ambassadors now use 4G enabled iPads to help provide visitors with real-time information with access to maps, the Partnership website, and Downtown events calendar.
On-going training is an essential element to the Ambassadors’ performance, and they receive some of the best available from organizations like AAA – The Auto Club Group, Tampa Fire and Rescue, Tampa Police Department, Visit Tampa Bay, and more.
The Partnership’s Downtown Clean Team provides supplemental litter and debris removal, minor landscaping, and maintenance to the sidewalks, curbs, and other public areas located within the Downtown Special Services District, to maintain a clean and safe Downtown experience. Team members also observe and report code enforcement issues, trip hazards, streetlight outages, and other relevant concerns related to the look and safety of Downtown. The Clean Team also recently began using iPads to track and record maintenance concerns, directly reporting the issues electronically to the appropriate City of Tampa department for resolution. Event organizers should fill out the Special Event Assistance Application and/or contact Shaun Drinkard via email or at 813.221.3686 for more information.
This program helps make Tampa’s Downtown more inviting by beautifying green space and public areas through redevelopment projects, landscaping and urban design, and public art. The program also supports and partially funds various small-scale projects as needs arise, often in venture with other entities.
The Tampa Downtown Partnership supports the growth and vitality of the urban core through the marketing of Tampa’s Downtown. This program promotes Downtown through the development and management of public relations campaigns, marketing, and social media strategies that effectively tell the story of our Downtown
The Partnership publishes several communications pieces as well as weekly online newsletter, such as the Monday Morning Memo. Additionally, the Partnership promotes Downtown’s happenings through our social media channels including Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Tampa Downtown Partnership membership provides an opportunity to improve and promote your business, build relationships with Downtown community and business leaders, and make your company’s voice heard on key issues. Additionally, the Partnership provides up-to-date data on trends and information that will help you make informed business decisions and provide opportunities for your employees to become involved and connected in Tampa’s Downtown community.
The Tampa Downtown Partnership’s Transportation & Planning team looks for ways to improve Downtown mobility, commenting, and parking options. The goal is to provide maximum accessibility and mobility to and within the urban core by offering multiple options that are fast, convenient, and sustainable.
