Washington, DC — On April 9, 2024 at a joint press event with the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, Lindsey Appiah, and the Metropolitan Police Department and DowntownDC, Verbosity, a leading provider of outdoor work validation and compliance technology, announced a partnership with DowntownDC, the District of Columbia’s largest Business Improvement District (BID) to implement its innovative AWD (Automated Workforce Deployment) system within key areas downtown, with a focus on Gallery Place, Chinatown and Penn Quarter. This collaboration aims to significantly improve safety and cleanliness within the Downtown BID district, with an emphasis on the Chinatown corridor.
Through this partnership, Verbosity‘s AWD system will empower Downtown BID’s safety and cleaning teams to report issues such as graffiti, vandalism, or sidewalk obstructions directly through a mobile app. The AWD system will then automatically map these issues and dispatch them to the appropriate responders for swift resolution. Additionally, Verbosity’s technology will allow the Downtown BID to create monitored routes for its safety and cleaning teams, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment. “We are thrilled to partner with the DowntownDC to leverage the power of our AWD system”, said Jerome DuVal, Chief Operating Officer at Verbosity. “By empowering safety and cleaning teams with real–time reporting and streamlining the response process, we can significantly enhance the overall experience for residents, visitors, and businesses within the Downtown BID’s 140 square blocks as we have done in 12 communities across the city.” AWD has been in operation in select DC Housing Authority communities since 2020, aiding in dramatic drops in violent crime as high as 67.7%. The same technology was instrumental in the Reopen NYC effort during Covid-79, where Verbosity, with its partner Mount Sinai Health Systems, leveraged the technology to validate large-scale Covid testing for some of the biggest agencies and private sector companies in NYC.
Here at home, DowntownDC is committed to fostering a vibrant and thriving downtown core. “Public safety and cleanliness are paramount to creating a welcoming and enjoyable environment for everyone who comes to downtown,” said Gerren Price, Executive Director of the Downtown BID. “We believe that Verbosity’s AWD system will be a valuable tool in achieving these goals, and we are excited to partner with them on this initiative.”
