Shining in the spotlight
Amy Geren to shape place management certification program for IDA
Earlier this year, the International Downtown Association (IDA) reached out seeking subject matter experts willing to volunteer their time, talent, and expertise to collaborate with other industry professionals on the Test Development Committee for the IDA’s Leadership in Place Management Certification program. Today we're excited to announce that our very own Amy Geren , Program Director at Portland Downtown , has been selected to serve on the Committee!

Amy will be working with professionals in her field on the Public Space Management and Operations portion of the certification, where she can call on her experience working with the Portland Police Department on the co-management of the Downtown Cadet Program ; the Public Works Department on the oversight of Portland Downtown's Supplemental Service Agreement with the City of Portland ; and Amistad on the development of the Peer Outreach Worker program . Also collaborating on this Committee is Casey Gilbert , immediate past Executive Director of Portland Downtown.

Amy holds a Master’s Degree of Community Planning & Development and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Research & Evaluation Methods from the Muskie School of Public Service , as well as a Nonprofit Management Certificate from the Maine Association of Nonprofits . To say that we're lucky to have her is an understatement!
Weigh in on COVID's impact in Portland
Portland Downtown partners with MIT on survey for small businesses
Portland Downtown invites all downtown businesses to participate in a short survey – "Rebuilding Main Street after COVID-19" – as part of a research project conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Upon completion of the survey, you can enter a raffle to win one of two $50 Visa e-Gift Cards.  The survey will close on  Friday, August 7.  If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the research project, please contact Emma González Roberts at  [email protected] .

Note: Portland, ME is one of seven focus cities for this project. The other cities are Haverhill, MA; Flint, MI; Lansing, MI; Nashua, NH; New Haven, CT; and Youngstown, OH.
Reaching out for help
Amistad's APPLE Line connects our most vulnerable with support & services
Business owners and employees often ask us, "What do we do if we see a person in our shop or on the street who needs help?"

If it's not an emergency situation (in which case you'd call 911 or Portland Police Dispatch at 874-8575), Amistad's new APPLE Line may be a good solution.

The Amistad Portland Peer Line (APPLE) will connect you to one of Amistad's Peer Outreach Workers , who are trained to support people experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and addiction. The line (550-7920) is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 10pm. Thank you to our partners at Amistad for providing this important resource!
Discover (or re-discover!) downtown
Check out our new Downtown Map & Directory
In case you missed it, our new Portland Downtown Map and Directory is hot off the press! It features a handy walking map and listings for over 600 downtown businesses including Bars & Restaurants, Shops, Hotels, Museums & Galleries, Professional Services, and more. As you plan your downtown visit, be sure to check your favorite businesses' websites and social media for their current hours and curbside & delivery options – and please be respectful of store policies regarding social distancing and face coverings. View a digital copy here , or request a FREE mailed copy here .

Note: If your business or organization would like free boxes of Directories (200 per box), please email Adam . We are happy to arrange a contact-free delivery!