Long Beach, CA (April 29, 2025) – Downtown Long Beach is pushing forward with innovation — and the Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is helping lead the way. In its 2025 Midyear Update, the DTLB Alliance highlights its programs, a season of growth, and community connection across Downtown, covering work completed between October 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.
“Our Downtown is not just growing — it’s transforming,” said Austin Metoyer, President & CEO of the DTLB Alliance. “This report shows how we’re meeting new needs head-on — strengthening neighborhoods, investing in people, and shaping a Downtown where everyone can thrive.”
Among the highlights:
Economic Development
- 256 businesses supported, with 314 new B2B connections forged.
- New programs: The Weekly Crave and an upcoming Spanish-language DTLB Food Series to serve a wider entrepreneurial community.
- Brokers by the Beach brought 115 real estate leaders into the Downtown opportunity zone.
- Hosted 37 educational workshops and networking events for entrepreneurs.
Clean & Safe
- Over 96,000 community support actions completed, from safety escorts to graffiti removal.
- Expanded Homeless Outreach: Strengthened connections with MHLA through staff trainings and hired a new full-time coordinator to improve connections to care and resources.
- Alley Busters program grew, providing jobs and beautifying public spaces.
- Supported business by completing 4,506 business contacts through Safety Ambassadors.
- Made downtown more vibrant by collecting and removing 40,604 bags of trash.
Placemaking
- Public spaces reimagined: The new “Paws on the Promenade” monthly meet-ups activated Downtown streets.
- Hello Lamp Post introduced smart, interactive wayfinding for visitors and residents.
- Cultural moments celebrated year-round with programs like Día de los Muertos and Valentine’s Day activations.
Community Outreach & Events
- $20,000 invested in grassroots community events through microgrants.
- Dance Downtown Revolution launched, offering free weekly dance classes in the heart of Downtown.
- DTLB Art + Design Walk spotlighted local artists and driving thousands of new and returning visitors.
Marketing & Communications
- 4.9M+ video views and a growing 121,632-strong social audience.
- “Opposite of Ordinary” campaign launched, putting Downtown’s unique character front and center.
- Kept the community informed with 249 individual stories told and 130 videos created or shared.
The above bulleted items are just a small portion of the work staff and volunteers accomplished these past six months. The full digital report is available now here, and a limited number of print copies are available in the Alliance offices upon request.
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About: The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is a nonprofit, community-based organization whose mission is to cultivate, preserve and promote a healthy, safe, and prosperous Downtown. The DTLB Alliance is recognized as the voice of Downtown Long Beach by the City of Long Beach and the State of California. By balancing the interests of the residents, as well as businesses, the organization creates tangible progress by way of vested interest and solidified partnerships across local, municipal, and commercial lines. For additional information, visit www.downtownlongbeach.org and follow on Facebook @downtownlongbeach, on “X” (formerly Twitter) @dtlballiance and Instagram @dtlballiance.