Care For Mile Square.
A cared-for, vibrant downtown is key to growing our businesses, attracting workers, residents, and visitors, as well as encouraging further investment in our capital city and central Indiana region. An Economic Enhancement District (EED) will provide a sustainable funding source and an unprecedented level of targeted investment in the economic and cultural heart of Indiana, the Mile Square district of downtown Indianapolis.
What is an Economic Enhancement District (EED)?
An Economic Enhancement District (EED) is a funding tool to provide an increased level of service to address specific challenges and opportunities facing a central business district. It gives property owners a mechanism to decide how they want to invest in their downtown. EEDs are very common across the country; in fact, Indy's Mile Square was the largest central business district in the nation without such a tool - until now.
EED investments in the Mile Square will help encourage more workers to return downtown, build on the momentum we're seeing in residential and development growth, and ensure Indianapolis and the region are world-class destinations for residents and visitors alike.
The Impact of Care
One-time federal funding provided by the City of Indianapolis through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allowed for the creation of an 18-month pilot program to provide enhanced services for downtown. While effective, the Mile Square needs a sustainable funding source to operationalize and continue these services. This is why an EED is so important.
Below are some examples of the impact made by the pilot program:
+500%
Increase in the amount of hours worked by Downtown Indy Inc.'s Clean Team
5,000+
Additional bags of trash picked up (+550% from 2022)
1,000
Graffiti locations remediated (+1,100% from 2022)
9X
Increase in foot and bike patrols focused on the Mile Square each week
"The work that Downtown Indy Inc has accomplished over the last two years to provide safety and cleanliness services for downtown residents and employees has inspired more of our Trailblazers to return to the office. The EED has shown it is the appropriate vehicle for this vital work to continue."
Amy Waggoner,
Salesforce
"We all want to see a vibrant and cared for downtown. We support community, business and government leaders working together to make critical investments to ensure downtown has the tools and resources needed so our workforce, visitors and residents feel safe and welcome.”
Brandi Davis-Handy,
AES Indiana
“Improving safety and supporting a low-barrier homeless shelter are important priorities for us. We’ve seen progress being made and are ready to partner with the city and our fellow property owners to continue this important work and strengthen our downtown.”
Perry Griffith III,
Denison Parking
