RALEIGH, NC (September 17, 2014) – On Wednesday, September 17 from 12:45 pm-1:30 pm, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) held a press conference with Mayor Nancy McFarlane at the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market in City Plaza, to introduce two new Green Machines® as part of the Clean Ambassador Program initiative. Acquired by the DRA, the machines provide efficient and effective waste management capabilities of in an effort to maintain pristine, walkable streets, enhancing downtown’s quality of life.
Built by the Tennant Corporation, the Green Machines® will be operated by the Clean Ambassadors. Currently, DRA Clean Ambassadors pick up over 11,000 pounds of litter annually and with the new machines, DRA expects to exceed last year’s trash removal by 150 percent. To accommodate downtown’s strong activity, the number of blocks cleaned per week will increase by approximately 140 percent or 43 additional blocks.
“Keeping a downtown clean is both a quality of life enhancement and contributes to our economic success,” said David Diaz, President and CEO of the DRA. “Investors are looking for a well-managed campus when they visit our downtown. Providing seven-days a week cleaning service will present downtown in its best light.”
A clean city is part of the economic development strategy so investors can see firsthand how DRA maintains downtown and its pristine condition. Home to over 5,000 residents, over 170 restaurants and bars, and over 40 retail stores, Downtown Raleigh continues to stay active as the hub for outdoor activity which means sidewalks and streets require extra attention and maintenance. These machines have the ability to compact waste to one third its original size reducing dump cycles and have great reach ability to clean under planters, around benches, and in tight areas and sweep sidewalks and other public spaces. In addition, the machines follow up with a vacuum, spraying a scented disinfectant on sidewalks.
The DRA customized the machines with a specially painted DRA primary color red adorned with their logo. To further personalize this new and exciting initiative, the DRA encouraged the public to put a stamp on the new machines with the #namethemachine contest, receiving over 100 entries. Mayor Nancy McFarlane announced that the two machines will be named “Wally" paying homage to Sir Walter Raleigh and “Izzy/Isabella”, honoring the first female mayor of Raleigh in 1977, Isabella Cannon.
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About Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA)
DRA is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose mission is to continue the revitalization of Raleigh’s downtown. The Alliance enhances the quality of life and positively impacts the economic success of downtown through five services: 1. Safety, Hospitality & Clean Ambassadors; 2. Strategic Branding & Community Communications; 3. Special Events Production & City Plaza Programming; 4. Retail Attraction & Merchant Promotions; and 5. Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement. For more information about DRA, please visit www.youRhere.com.