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For Immediate Release: June 30, 2025
Media Contact: Max Wing | max@downtownindy.org

Downtown Indy, Inc. launches Economic Enhancement District

Dedicated funding source for year-round additional safety and cleaning services now in place, launch of monthly reporting for public transparency

INDIANAPOLIS — Tomorrow, July 1, Downtown Indy, Inc. (DII) will mark the launch of the Downtown Economic Enhancement District (EED), a tool created by the Indiana General Assembly and enacted by the City-County Council to provide consistent, dedicated funding for additional safety, cleanliness, and outreach services in the Downtown area. The district supports street level services above and beyond traditional city operations including seven-day-a-week cleaning crews performing power washing, litter abatement, and graffiti remediation, as well as additional public safety resources, new crime-fighting technology, and homelessness outreach initiatives.

From Pilot Program to Permanent Investment

To test the capabilities of an EED, DII spearheaded a multi-year pilot program with one-time federal funding provided by the City of Indianapolis through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA funding began at the start of 2023, and now, more than two and a half years later, DII has doubled down on its operational capacity, tripled its boots on the ground Clean Team employee roster, bolstered its safety patrols, and produced tangible outcomes including:

  • An increase from 12 clean team members in 2022 to 36 in 2023/2024, providing seven-day-a-week, consistent services across the area
  • 830+ blocks power washed in 2024 (a 70% increase from 2022)
  • 17,000+ bags of trash picked up in 2024 (a 1,300% increase from 2022)
  • Remediation of 1,300+ graffiti locations in 2024 (a 270% increase from 2022)
  • 9x the amount of foot and bike patrol hours each week

Following DII’s transition away from ARPA dollars, the EED will now provide a sustainable funding source to operationalize and continue safety, cleanliness, and outreach services so Downtown can thrive.

Funding Model and District Boundaries

Property owners within the district boundaries—defined as I-65 to the north and east, South Street to the south, and Blackford Street to the west—pay a fee based on 0.168% of a property’s gross assessed value, as set by the City-County Council. After spring property tax collection, the board is expecting the district to generate approximately $4.2M in the first year. By law, the budget is capped at $5.5M annually, and fees will never exceed 0.168%. Future EED budgets will support the operations of a low barrier shelter and housing hub.

Transparent Results and Community Feedback

Tangible outcomes from the EED and central business district at large are now monitored and shared with the public through DII’s website at www.downtownindy.org/eed. A dynamic dashboard displays metrics on cleanliness, beautification, and public safety within the EED—such as trash removed, blocks power-washed, and homelessness touch points—along with broader indicators of Downtown development, including the number of residents and households, visitor traffic, the development pipeline, and available amenities. Metrics will be recorded on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, with some aggregated data reflecting work that has already occurred.

The EED metrics dashboard also includes key findings from DII’s Downtown Indianapolis Perception Survey in partnership with the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University, targeted at the broad cross-section of users of the area—residents, workers, property owners, visitors, and more. The goal of the study, conducted for the first time last year and reassessed annually, is to better understand how community members interact with Downtown, understand their concerns and priorities, and, in turn, help DII prioritize its efforts and refocus resources. Key survey findings, which help guide the needs and uses of the EED, include:

  • 56% of all individuals agree that they feel safe Downtown
  • 49% of all individuals agree that Downtown is clean and well presented
  • 55% of all individuals agree that they feel connected to Downtown
  • 61% of all individuals agree they love being Downtown
  • 31% of all individuals agree that Downtown is better than average
  • 21% of all individuals agree that Downtown is worse than average

The survey will serve as an annual tool to track outcomes, as part of DII’s larger five-year strategic plan. The public is encouraged to take the 2025 edition of the perception survey, now available for feedback here: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6G7LYT0HPX7dx4y

How to Get Involved

Property owners can help ensure EED efforts are effective by using the See Say app, a free tool to submit cleanliness and public safety inquiries quickly, helping the DII operations team respond faster. This app is available to download on both iPhone and Android. Stakeholders can also email inquiries to ProblemSolver@DowntownIndy.org.

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About Downtown Indy, Inc.

For more than three decades, Downtown Indy, Inc. (DII) has partnered with businesses, property owners, and Downtown stakeholders to ensure Downtown Indianapolis is the vibrant, welcoming, and fun heart of Indiana’s cultural and economic life. DII serves as Downtown’s primary place-based management organization, collaborating and executing on large-scale events, public space programming, cleanliness and beautification initiatives, and investments in public safety. www.DowntownIndy.org