The Downtown Street Ambassadors work tirelessly to ensure everyone is welcome and safe downtown. They are on the streets daily helping people find their way, assisting businesses, and referring people in need to qualified service providers.  

The Ambassadors: 

• Answer visitors' questions about where to go, what to see and what to do.
• Help people in crisis get the shelter, food and health care services that they need.
• Connect downtown businesses with resources provided by our partner organizations.
• Provide a friendly, uniformed presence to promote safety and discourage criminal activity.  

Ambassadors are a community-based public-safety resource.  They are not law enforcement. Businesses in the downtown service area can request the Ambassador team's assistance by calling (801) 541-6662.

The ambassadors are managed by the Downtown Alliance with generous support from Salt Lake City and Visit Salt Lake.

Interested in being part of the Downtown Ambassador program? Apply Here. 

Hello! We want you to find what you're looking for.

Sometimes things move around or get reorganized from time to time but all the best and updated information is available from the main menu or the home page. 

Thanks for visiting and supporting downtown Salt Lake City!

Executive Director

Thank you for your nomination for the Achievement Awards. We appreciate your time and will review your nominee.

The Downtown Alliance Board is made up of 12 at large representatives who represent commercial property interests in the Central Business District bounded by 300 East, North Temple, 400 South and Interstate-15. Six additional ex-officio members represent the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency, Salt Lake City Mayor, Salt Lake County Mayor, Salt Lake City Council, Visit Salt Lake and Downtown Merchants Association. The Board sets policy objectives and provides oversight for the Downtown Alliance and its affiliated companies and programs. The Board meets monthly. Members also serve on the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors. New members are nominated and elected by the existing Board. Members serve two year terms with an unlimited number of possible terms.

Downtown Alliance Board of Advisors

• Lloyd Allen, Hamilton Partners (Chair)
• Nico Priskos, Internet Properties (Past Chair)
• Kim Abrams, Goldman Sachs
• Michael Dehner, PRI
• Chloe A. Gehrke, Vectra Management Group 
• Chris Kirk, Colliers
• Amy Leininger, RUIN
• Mark Powell, Vivint Arena
• Allison Behjani, Ray Quinney & Nebeker
• Bruce Bingham, Hamilton Partners, Inc.
• Nate Boyer, Boyer Company
• John Dahlstrom, Wasatch Properties
• Derek Miller, President & CEO, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce
• Linda Wardell, City Creek Center

EX-OFFICIO:

• Chief Mike Brown, Salt Lake City Police Department 
• Jennifer Bruno, Salt Lake City
• Darlene Carter, C.W. Urban
• Matthew Castillo, Salt Lake County 
• Carlton Christensen, UTA
• Kaitlin Eskelson, Visit Salt Lake
• Kyle Lavender, Salt Lake City Fire Department
• Wendy Leonelli, J. Fisher Company
• Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake City 
• Lorena Riffo-Jenson, Salt Lake City Economic Development
• Nick Tarbet, Salt Lake City
• Ana Valdemoros, Salt Lake City Council 
• Mayor Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake County

Committees

Downtown Development Committee: The Downtown Development Committee provides a platform for downtown stakeholders interested in developing and implementing economic development strategies and influencing public policy that enhances downtown's economic prosperity and regional competitive advantage. This group advocates for important issues to improve the ability of downtown Salt Lake City to compete for additional investment and for stakeholders to achieve their property and investment goals. Participation in this committee is by invitation. If you are interested in learning more about this committee, please contact Jessica Thesing at .

Co-Chairs: Wendy Leonelli, Colliers and Darlene Clark, C.W. Urban

Downtown Merchant Association: The Downtown Merchant Association is a business organization that has been an advocate for downtown business owners for more than 80 years. It is attended by business owners and managers from retail, restaurants, bars, and arts organizations to discuss downtown issues related to business operation, getting updates on upcoming relevant events, and creating new ways to develop the downtown retail core. Meetings are open to any business in the downtown area. If you are interested in receiving communications or participating in committee meetings, please contact .

Join us for Urban Exploration > San Diego, Sept 18-21, 2024  

Beyond its Mediterranean climate and beaches is the dynamic city of San Diego–an economic engine with high performing biotech, healthcare, and sports entertainment sectors, vibrant promenades, art, parks and a diversity of cultures.  Downtown San Diego’s impressive residential growth in the last 20 years looks a lot like Downtown Salt Lake City’s residential trajectory ahead.  Join Salt Lake City leaders for an educational exploration of a metropolis that has become a lighthouse of urbanism.  

Our base camp is The Guild Hotel, a former YMCA lauded by Vogue and Architectural Digest as a crown jewel in the heart of the city.

Travel considerations:

• Three nights hotel accommodations (Sept 18-21) are included in the registration fee.
• Our opening reception begins at 3:40 (PT) Wednesday September 18 at PetCo Field for the Padres v. Astros game.  
• Our reception on Friday is 6:00 to 8:00 pm, September 20.
• We highly recommend visiting Mercato (the farmers market in the streets of Little Italy) with us, on Saturday morning, September 21.
• Explorers are responsible for booking their own flights. There are eight daily nonstop flights to San Diego from Salt Lake City everyday, book today for cheapest fares!
• This trip consistently sell-out, please book as soon as possible.
• Questions? Contact Kristina Olivas, Urban Affairs Manager:
  
    
  

Interested in sponsoring Urban Exploration 2024? Sponsorship benefits include newsletter spotlights, features in the 2024 Urban Exploration Field Guide and more. To learn more, contact  

Stay up to date Urban Exploration with the Downtown Alliance

Join us to celebrate downtown and the creators who are making it vibrant, prosperous, and lovable! 

THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023
3:00 State of Downtown

Le Meridien, The West Quarter
131 South 300 West, Salt Lake

4:30 Rooftop Social, Van Ryder 

Register Here

Thank you to our 2023 State of Downtown Partners: 

Downtown Supporters

Downtown Sustainers

To learn more about available sponsorship opportunities and benefits, please contact Kristen Lavelett at 

ALUMNI OF THE CREATOR AWARD

Norbert Bueno, Kathy Stephenson, Liberty Sky Development/Cowboy Partners + The Boyer Company, Russell Weeks, Downtown Ambassadors, Martine Cafe, Robin Hutcheson, Babs De Lay, Broadway Media Group, Senate Majority Whip Stuart Adams, Representative Brad Wilson, Deputy Chief Mike Brown, Tom Guinney, The Depot, Mayor Ben McAdams, Valter Nassi, Neumont University, Salt Lake City Greek Festival, SelectHealth, The Downtown Merchants Association, City Creek Center, Gallivan Plaza /RDA, The Twilight Concert Series, Dick Wirick, Scott Beck, Royal Eatery, Chief Chris Burbank, OC Tanner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mayor Ralph Becker, the Utah Jazz, Broadway Merchants, Zions Securities Corporation, Bill Knowles, XMission, Walker Center, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City Weekly, Zim's Crafts, Robert Farrington, Downtown Rising, Squatters, Bennion Jewelers, Mr. Mac, Fidelity Investments, The Summit Group, Discovery Gateway, LDS Business College, The Eccles Foundation, Utah Heritage Foundation, Wasatch Property Management, Big D Construction, Zions Bank, Cowboy Partners, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Steven and Cleves Weber, Salt Lake City Council, Bishop H. David Burton, KUTV 2News, Meier and Frank, The Outdoor Industry Association, VNU Expositions, Salt Lake City Library, Clark Planetarium, Downtown Dine O' Round, Mayor Rocky Anderson, The Gateway, Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival, Jess Agraz, Transportation Management Assoc., Tim Harpst, Salt Lake City Parking & Transportation, 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Davis County Transportation Tax Initiative, Rick Davis, The Wells Fargo Center, The Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake Art Center, Broadway Lofts, Zephyr Club, Utah Opera Company, TRAX-Utah Transit Authority, Hotel Monaco, Jon Schumann, Sr., FFKR Architects, Gastronomy, Inc., Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe Woodbury, Gallivan Plaza, KSL Television, Hansen Planetarium, Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, Naylor Wentworth Architects, Bill Martin, J. Michael Martin, Cordant Technologies, Edwards & Daniels Architects, Living Traditions Festival, David Winder/Lou Watson, Greek Festival, Tony Caputo's Market, Sam Weller, Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation, Temple Square Concert Series, Utah Arts Festival, Downtown Farmers Market, Simmons Radio Group, Salt Palace Convention Center, Brownstone Building, The Metropolitan, I. J. Wagner, Overland Development, Art Access, City Creek Park and Brigham Historic Park, Salt Lake Chamber, KTVX, American Stores Company, Henderson Building, Artspace, California Tire & Rubber Co., Stephen Goldsmith, Fred Ball, Salt Lake County, American Investment Bank, First Night, KRCL, Rio Grande Neighborhood Council, George Hofman, Harris Simmons, Hal Clyde, Neal Stowe, Salt Lake Gallery Association, Exchange Place Partnership, Zivio Ethnic Arts Ensemble, KSL TV/Radio, Salt Lake Redevelopment Agency, Non-Profit Housing Corp., Peter Lassic, John Williams, Eddie Bauer, The Gap, Salt Lake City Arts Council, Deseret News, Verl Topham, Larry H. Miller, SLCPD Bike Squad, 111 Main/City Creek Reserve, Gail Miller & Miller Family, Salt Lake Tribune, Vestar Corporation, Cultural Core & Vasilios Priskos.

Stay up to date on State of Downtown

The Homeless Outreach Service Team, aka HOST, is a proactive and collaborative effort to move the community in Salt Lake City, into a partnership with the police and homeless service providers to connect homeless individuals with social services and resources. 100% of donations go to the Pamela J. Atkinson foundation and are dispersed to local homeless services providers that provide help for those that need it most.

We encourage you to double your donation thanks to a generous dollar-for-dollar match by the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation’s $10 Million Challenge Grant.

Panhandling

When people approach you to ask for money, sometimes they really need help. But in many cases, they are not homeless. Often times, panhandlers use the money you give them to fuel addictions and other self-destructive behaviors.

Even small donations can help to create significant programs to help people in need. Social service organizations in Salt Lake City provide services for people who find themselves in need, but they can't do it without your support. Instead of giving spare change to panhandlers, please consider making a generous donation of money or time to the community organizations dedicated to solving problems and helping the homeless.

Downtown social service providers include:

• Catholic Community Services: Weigand Homeless Day Center
• Catholic Community Services: St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall
• The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake
• Volunteers of America
• The Fourth Street Clinic

Panhandling is not an issue unique to downtown or Salt Lake City — it is a problem in communities across the Wasatch Front and across the nation. Every problem has a solution. Decide to help fight homelessness in a way that benefits the entire community. Then you can know you've given, without being taken.

Know where your money goes and turn "spare change into real change."

Read more about Homeless Outreach efforts or HOST Team in Salt Lake City »

Modeled on the country’s great city markets, the Salt Lake City Public Market will be another jewel in Salt Lake’s downtown, creating a unique indoor/outdoor public space that serves residents from throughout the state, attracts visitors, and supports Utah’s growing local food movement.

The Rio Grande Depot offers a compelling space for the Public Market and a great public use for an iconic historic structure. The Depot is well known, architecturally stunning, easily accessible for locals and visitors, and reflects the Public Market’s focus on authenticity and place.

The Public Market builds upon a strong foundation: the outstanding success of the 28-year-old Downtown Farmers Market, initiated by the Downtown Alliance in 1992 to introduce positive activity into Pioneer Park. The Downtown Farmers Market has evolved into one of the nation’s premier outdoor markets where more than 300 Utah farmers and small businesses participate in the Market and more than 10,000 customers from all walks of life enjoy the Market every Saturday.

Since 2013, the Downtown Farmers Market has operated inside the Rio Grande Depot during the winter months, from November to April. This experience has proven the potential for the Rio Grande Depot to be the full-time home of the Public Market.

For more information about the Salt Lake City Public Market, please contact .