Kalamazoo, MI
Municipality in Michigan
United States
Kalamazoo, MI launched the Downtown Kalamazoo Ambassador Program with five full-time helpers
The City of Kalamazoo launched the Downtown Kalamazoo Ambassador Program to make the area cleaner, safer, and more welcoming to residents and visitors. The program hired five residents to work full-time on various tasks such as sanitizing the sidewalks, developing relationships with local businesses, assisting residents with safety concerns, and providing visitors with directions. The program is operating as a three-year pilot funded by seven local organizations to raise downtown standards.
Kalamazoo, MI
United States
Kalamazoo, MI coordinates Digital Access for All campaign to connect public school students
The initiative provides free Wi-Fi routers to 1,000 households with students in the Kalamazoo Public Schools system. City officials worked with the school district, public library, and other partners to identify households in areas with unstable connectivity. Digital Access for All builds on an earlier initiative by school administrators to provide laptops to all students during COVID-19. Kalamazoo hopes to build off this pilot to ensure digital equity for all households.
Kalamazoo, MI
United States
Kalamazoo, MI turns existing data into better public safety responses through new operations center
The Kalamazoo Strategic Operations Center (KSOC) uses predictive software to anticipate crime patterns and allocate personnel. Three KSOC analysts keep the city ahead of public safety threats by evaluating social media behavior. Partnerships with neighboring departments and state law enforcement officials improve outcomes through shared data. The KSOC has proven useful in coordinating city department responses to COVID-19.
Kalamazoo, MI
United States