Gold Cap Ambassadors set to improve service, safety and cleanliness in Myrtle Beach

Visitors to Ocean Boulevard and the Boardwalk in Myrtle Beach will be greeted by our Gold Cap Ambassadors starting this Saturday. City Council approved the new program last month, and the ambassadors are set to provide daily, year-round service from 21st Avenue North to 14th Avenue South.

The goal of this one-year trial program is to significantly improve service, safety and cleanliness on the sidewalks and streets by identifying and quickly addressing issues. Plus, if you have a question or need directions, look for a Gold Cap to provide that service!

The Gold Cap Ambassadors are dressed in bright gold and navy uniforms. During the summer, they will cover the territory from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The ambassadors are hired and managed by Block By Block, which provides a similar service for more than 100 other US cities.

Their role is to provide hospitality service and business connections for our guests, all while making sure that the downtown area is clean, safe and presentable. The Gold Cap team also will answer questions and direct visitors to available resources.

The new team has been training this week and will begin its official duties on Saturday, August 8. Daily responsibilities include removing litter, emptying trash containers, keeping an eye on landscaping, pressure washing sidewalks and disinfecting public fixtures, in addition to answering questions and generally being helpful to our guests.

“We are excited to see the Gold Cap Ambassadors hit the streets this weekend,” said Brian Schmitt of the Downtown Development Office and the city’s Ambassador liaison. “This service is above and beyond what the city currently provides to our visitors, businesses and residents. I look forward to seeing a measurable improvement in cleanliness and a greater feeling of safety. It also will have positive results for our business operators who invest so much of their lives in our community,” Schmitt added.

Four to six ambassadors will work a typical shift, with some overlap during busy times. Each morning, a Clean Team will check the area for sanitation issues, while afternoon and evening ambassadors will focus on hospitality and business services, in addition to cleanliness and safety.

Gold Cap Ambassadors are trained to interact with the public in a caring and compassionate manner, including those who may be without a permanent home. To help them get back on their feet, the ambassadors will provide information about New Directions and other local resources.

Ambassadors will not function as law enforcement officers, but will be part of the overall public service that the city provides. Each will have mobile communication devices and will report any problems they see to the appropriate authority.

Block By Block is the nation’s leading provider of safety, cleaning and hospitality services for downtowns and business districts. The company serves Columbia, Charlotte, Wilmington, Chapel Hill, Macon and Norfolk, to name a few cities. For more, visit www.blockbyblock.com.