Block by Block is staffed and ready to begin work next week, beginning Gainesville’s three-year contract with the company.  

The Gainesville City Commission approved the $3.1 million contract in August, and the company then started ramping up for the launch. 

John Koch, Block by Block division vice president, said the company will have 14 employees to manage downtown Gainesville, a slightly smaller than average city in its portfolio.  

Houston has a team of 98 employees, and the company also operates in six other Florida cities: Miami, Miami Beach, Jacksonville, Hollywood, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. 

Koch said people will notice a difference after heavy lifting by the team in the first three months. At the start, he said the team works to get on top of cleaning and build relationships with business owners. Once in rhythm, the company’s cleaning work can go unnoticed, but Koch said Block by Block tracks its metrics for the city to have and use.  

Mayor Harvey Ward said the impact will be more noticeable to Gainesville visitors who need to ask Block by Block ambassadors, decked in bright green gear, for directions or information on parking.  

“My hope is that in the not-too-distant future, it becomes something that regular visitors to downtown don’t notice at all; that it just works,” Ward said. “That’s how well most City programs work is that you don’t even notice that it’s there because it works.” 

The company will remove litter, erase graffiti, manage flyers, improve landscaping and keep sidewalks and public spaces accessible. Downtown ambassadors will make the area feel safer, Ward said, by providing more eyes and ears on the streets and even offering safety escorts to cars or locations.  

He highlighted the unique feel of downtowns, drawing visitors for decades and not planning on stopping. 

“We’re putting more people on the street whose whole job it is to make you feel like you want to be downtown,” Ward said. 

The company will also operate in the West University Corridor zone closer to UF, where the company will focus on safety engagements.  

City Manager Cynthia Curry said Friday that Block by Block will take over some responsibilities from Public Works and other city departments, saving time and allowing staff to address other issues.  

Part of that will include interactions with homeless people, Ward said, but he stressed that the company will not replace the city’s homeless response already in place.  

The downtown ambassadors will be more eyes in the area to contact the Community Resource Paramedicine Program when needed and can connect homeless people with resources—just like they would for any other downtown visitor.  

“They’re here to supplement making downtown clean and safe for everybody, and that includes our houseless neighbors who find themselves in need of something,” Ward said. 

On Thursday night, Gainesville passed an ordinance to ban sleeping and camping on public rights-of-way. Commissioners and city staff said the step is forced because of new state regulations.  

But the city plans to continue helping and interacting with homeless individuals as it has for years.