Just as our Ambassadors help welcome people to downtown as they patrol the streets, Capital Crossroads helps to welcome new residents to the neighborhood through a Welcome Bag Program. Once per month, Welcome Bags are delivered to new businesses and residents.

The program began nearly 10 years ago when the SID delivered welcome bags to new businesses and condo owners. This year the SID received a $10,000 grant from the Create Columbus Commission to help expand the program to include apartment renters. The intent of the program is to provide a warm welcome that outlines available SID services and that markets area businesses and their products and services. The grant has funded the purchase of 3,000 downtown-branded reusable totes, which will hold the information and products, as well as 3,000 flashlights that will help promote the SID safety program.

Recipients receive product samples, offers and information for businesses like dental services and salons, restaurants and retailers, as well as tickets and discounts for outstanding local amenities like the Columbus Museum of Art, COSI and CAPA. In 2016, bags were delivered to 51 businesses and 395 residents. Thanks to the grant, Capital Crossroads plans to expand the program, which helps firm the relationship between new residents and businesses moving downtown with the SID and the rest of the downtown community.