fbpx

Block by Block hiring Downtown Ambassadors for the City of Gainesville

Press release from City of Gainesville

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Block by Block, a leader in space management and urban beautification, is now accepting applications for the City of Gainesville’s Downtown Ambassador Program. Expected to launch in early December, the program will play an active role in supporting a downtown Gainesville that is safe, clean, beautiful, and lively.

Block by Block is the leading provider of Ambassador Services across the country, with more than 150 programs nationwide. On Aug. 15, the Gainesville City Commission approved contracting with Block by Block for an initial three-year Downtown Ambassador Program at a cost of $3.1 million. The ambassadors will be funded by the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) and tax increment financing (TIF) from the College Park-University Heights Redevelopment Trust Fund.

Ambassadors will not be City of Gainesville employees but will work for Block by Block within the GCRA’s downtown boundaries and along a section of West University Avenue. They will wear highly visible, easily identifiable uniforms and make rounds on foot, bicycle, and motor vehicle. Their work will include graffiti removal, street cleaning, landscaping, community outreach, hospitality, and more. Ambassadors also will build relationships with vulnerable neighbors and connect them with support services.  

“We’re looking for passionate, hardworking individuals ready to make a positive impact,” said Angela Grether, Director of Talent Acquisition and Culture for Block by Block. “Our work makes a visible difference, and we’re excited to welcome new team members who are as passionate about Gainesville as we are.”

Open positions include:

  • Clean & Safe Ambassadors
  • Outreach Ambassadors
  • Supervisors
  • Management

Those interested are encouraged to submit an online application with Block by Block or visit GCRA’s Downtown Ambassador information page. Block by Block’s hiring processes and practices are independent of the City of Gainesville.

  • How many hours per week will they get paid for, and how much will they get paid? Do they get health insurance?

  • They will TELL you what and how to think about our fair community. Just hire FREE parking valets instead, that’s all we need.

  • Another $3 million tax dollars wasted on a stupid program. That money, combined with getting rid of the beggars, bums and homeless (no loitering laws work in most of the clean cities) would do wonders with more police patrolling downtown.

  • They need to do their job fair at University and Main, there’s 4 potential employees there every day.
    Either that or you liberal idiots need to stop feeding the cats so they’ll go away.

  • “We’re looking for passionate, hardworking individuals ready to make a positive impact,” said Angela Grether, Director of Talent Acquisition and Culture for Block by Block.

    How the hell do they think they’re going to find any ‘hardworking’ among an applicant pool of drug addicted, mentally ill criminals??

    Liberals blow my mind with this illogical waste of time and $$$.

  • This Gainesville, things/locations/events are not hard to find. Ever heard of Google. As far as graffiti removal sounds like a good idea for Community Service.

  • Are the Ambassadors going to be armed? Sounds like something commissioners do. They already only work part-time.

  • “Their work will include graffiti removal, street cleaning…”

    There’s some real job security, especially seeing as how the homeless are the biggest causes.
    Here’s a better idea and it doesn’t cost anything other than common sense – get rid of the panhandlers and homeless and the trash will go away.

  • Utter crap. Gainesville should model their downtown off Ocala. Free parking, no rif-raf, clean, well-lit, and no gun fights.

  • Before you spend anymore money, plan and pay the bills for city and county. This seems like a vicious plan to drive the local downtown businesses out. The long time bars, restaurants, etc. Then they can tear down those buildings and build more butt ugly multi story new but moldy buildings. Such a mean waste of our money. No one in Gainesville is allowed to own anything except what the elite deigns possible. Some of us don’t want to drink on the street or in a dated fern bar. And most of us don’t want to stand in line to get food from a truck and walk to our car to eat it because it is dangerous to sit outside down town.

  • Ever want to be a cop dealing with violent, drug-addicted bums all day, but without a weapon, any backup, or any statutory authority? Are you a college-aged woman that wants to be dropped off downtown with zero training and told to report to one of the two token homeless people they are hiring? This is the job for you.

    Block By Block, Inc. is based in California and sprouted directly from the sophomoric “defund the police” movement. This program has fleeced the gullible morons on the Gainesville City Commission out of $3.1 MILLION of our tax dollars to do exactly what the GRACE Marketplace “Street Team” lies about doing.

    Check out the reviews of this scam organization on Glassdoor. Notice the nasty sarcasm they respond with to every employee’s complaint? Guess how they are going to treat you.

  • Harvey can’t resist poking his fat fingers into the eyes of the downtown business owners, like a drunken abuser. Comunista Saco must approve.

  • This is nothing but pure grift. Panhandling on the next level.

    Mob boss Fat Harv is probably getting a nice kick-back.

  • This is money laundering at its best! Grace, SFH, and now Block by Block. Block by Block is bringing on SFH’s housing director, who is quite the character…I hope they do some research. What a way to spend 3 million! Absolutely outrageous.

  • If you don’t give these workers something to protect themselves, I hope they open carry. This is dangerous. Men are being raped downtown. People are being killed. Why are we taking the lives of our citizens so lightly?

  • Yes! SFH’s Director of Housing is going after the Operations Manager position with an $80,000 annual salary. Hopefully, they’re aware of his open DCF case and the various under-the-table real estate scams he’s involved in.

  • >