South Carolina, Arkansas cities speak on success of downtown ambassador programs as Columbia leaders continue push for safety improvements

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia city leaders aren't the only ones aiming to keep one of its most popular areas safe through the use of a downtown ambassador program.

The city is exploring the possibility of adding safety ambassadors to the downtown area in hopes of serving as additional eyes and ears to ensure public safety. The Columbia City Council had a first reading on the proposal during Monday night's council meeting.

According to city documents, the total cost of the program for one year is $504,390.03. The funds will be split three ways between the City of Columbia, University of Missouri and Downtown Community Improvement District, meaning the city will be responsible for paying $168,130.01 each year. The CID would manage the agreement through its Block by Block contract and will invoice the city annually, documents say.

The contract would begin on April 1 and end on March 31, 2027, with up to four renewal periods, if approved.

Documents say the ambassadors would work to conduct walking and bicycle patrols to deter unwanted activity and work on outreach with homeless individuals and help connect them with appropriate service providers. It would also aim to improve coordination between the City of Columbia, CID and MU and allow law enforcement to better focus on higher priority enforcement needs.

"The university is providing financial support for the ambassador program as part of our ongoing collaborative efforts with city, county, regional and state leaders to improve community safety in downtown Columbia," MU spokesman Christoper Ave said in a Tuesday afternoon statement.

City leaders began exploring the program after attending the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Leadership visit in Columbia, South Carolina, in October 2025, touting the success of the city's long-term success. Leaders in Columbia, Missouri, hope to mirror South Carolina and form the program, which would consist of uniformed and unarmed ambassadors.

The South Carolina city started the program roughly 25 years ago. Operations Manager for Block by Block Steve Weeks said the ambassadors are unarmed and don't serve as security guards. They rather work responding to smaller lower level situations and still encourage people to call 911 if a situations appears to be escalating.

However, Weeks said they still serve a greater purpose by making people feel safe and ease their fears.

"If we get a call about a disturbance at a business, a lot of times we can go in there and interact with somebody and they don't feel threatened like they're going to jail over it," Weeks said. "We're able to deescalate situations a little bit easier than say, a police officer or a security officer."

Operations Supervisor Adam Boulware said that all ambassadors have to go through training through the Block by Block program, but handle situations on a case-by-case basis. Boulware said they serve as a "buffer" between business owners and the police department, and work to have conversations with people, sometimes regulating people who may be loitering.

He said that's something that can then translate into getting some people the help that they need.

"A lot of times people may be frustrated, grumpy or something like that but it may also lead to other conversations where we can conduct maybe a slight outreach," Boulware said. "They're upset just because they don't have any help and nobody will listen to them."

Weeks said ambassadors are also trained to be aware of their surroundings and to utilize a "10-foot rule" when making initial contact with someone and have a way to escape, if needed.

The ambassadors work seven days a week, with the safety crew specifically working from 3-11:30 p.m. . The program also offers a shuttle service and can provide escorts to people's vehicles who requests them.

Weeks said the differences in Columbia, South Carolina, compared to when it used the program and when it did not has been monumental. He said it also allows them to continue to grow their relationship with the local police department, saying his background working in law enforcement for two decades allows him to see the comradery that can be built.

Weeks also said it allows residents to view the ambassadors in a non-threatening manner, making them more likely to pass information along about issues that are occurring within the city.

"We're also very good witnesses. These guys know how to keep a safe distance and what to watch for, what to report when they call the police so there's a lot that we bring to the table that does help not only deter crime, but to help solve the crimes that we have," Weeks said.

The program has also been utilized in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the past three years. Executive Director of Downtown Little Rock Partnership Kyle Leyenberger said the program is made up of eight-to-12 people who work to walk the downtown streets.

Leyenberger said the issue of crime can sometimes be perceived as worse than it actually is. He said he believes much of that fear can sometimes stem from people who may be experiencing mental health issues, which can often lead to people feeling unsafe.

That's where the ambassadors can help.

"One of the things that the ambassadors do is actually provide a quicker response and they're out there proactively meeting these people who are unhoused, learning kind of what their situation is and offering resources to them," Leyenberger said. "Then, police can actually focus on more serious crimes while the ambassadors are able to go do a quick response and hopefully, solve the situation without getting police involved."

Downtown Executive Director Nickie Davis previously told ABC 17 News that if approved, six ambassadors would be hired to work Thursday- Saturday from 5 p.m.-3 a.m.

The Block by Block Ambassador Program is also utilized by the following cities:

• Gainesville, Florida
• Iowa City, Iowa
• Fort Worth, Texas
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Columbus, Ohio
• Austin, Texas
• Pasadena, California

Davis said the ambassadors would also help with permitting for food trucks and carts, as well as work as touch points for bars and restaurants downtown, monitoring people who may become too drunk.