CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The City of Champaign announced that its new City Center Team is now out and providing help throughout the community.

The city announced in a press release on Friday that a team is now assisting visitors in Champaign’s main business areas. This team was created in collaboration with Block by Block, a company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

The City Center Team consists of six team members and an operations supervisor who offer engagement, outreach, and cleaning services throughout Champaign’s Downtown, Midtown, and Campustown areas.

“The City Center Team is an investment in maintaining our core business districts as welcoming, vibrant, and safe,” stated Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen in a release. “Downtown, Midtown, and Campustown are central to our community, and the City Center Team will help keep these areas clean, inviting, and safe for everyone.”

This newly formed team will assist visitors, monitor safety, carry out cleanup, beautify areas, remove graffiti, and more. The Champaign City Council approved this partnership on July 15, with funding from Champaign’s Tax Increment Finance District and Food and Beverage resources.

“By maintaining a visible presence in Downtown, Midtown, and Campustown, they will improve the visitor experience and support our residents and businesses,” added Feinen. “This partnership ensures Champaign remains a sought-after destination for gathering, shopping, and visiting. This exciting new program is another way the City of Champaign is investing in the vitality of our city’s core and supporting our local businesses.”

Block by Block has a long history of operating in downtown areas since launching its first program in Louisville in 1995. They have developed operating models based on best practices, research and development, and modern technology, forming partnerships in over 150 locations across the country.

For more information on the City Center Team, go to visitdowntownchampaign.com/team.