Main Street District welcomes new lead for Yellow Shirt Ambassadors
August 13, 2024
Jared Harper joins the Main Street District as the new Operations Manager
The Main Street District announces Jared Harper as the new Operations Manager for the clean and safe team, also known as the Yellow Shirt Ambassadors. The Operations Manager focuses on supervising a team of 17 ambassadors that provide cleaning services and public safety information to the district. From tending to flower baskets and picking up litter to maintaining contact with businesses and CPD when necessary, the Yellow Shirt Ambassadors are the glue that keeps the district feeling safe and welcoming.
“From the first day he stepped into the district, Jared has hit the ground running with new ideas for the clean and safe team,” says Matt Kennell, President & CEO of the Main Street District. “It really can be a challenging job, and in just two months, Jared has bonded with the rest of the team to maintain that family atmosphere, while also encouraging our program to be the best it can be.”
Jared Harper MSD Ambassador Leader
The clean and safe team provides services to the 36-block area bounded by Gervais Street, Elmwood Avenue, Assembly Street, and Marion Street. Through a contract with the City of Columbia, the clean and safe team has expanded these services to the north side of Elmwood Avenue, from Bull Street to Lincoln Street, as well as the commercial areas in the North Main Street district from Elmwood Avenue to Anthony Street, Anthony Street to Marion Street, Marion Street to Franklin Street and Franklin Street to North Main Street.
Jared Harper comes to the Main Street District with over 25 years of experience in the property management and building facilities industry and serves in the South Carolina National Guard with over 22 years of military service. He has been married to his wife, Tanya, for 25 years with three children: Justin (26), Jordan (24) and Jackson (21). Jared has lived in and traveled to many U.S. States and foreign countries in both his military and civilian careers.
“I have been in this position for a short time but already feel at home in downtown Columbia,” says Harper. “I enjoy interacting with business owners, tourists and the people who work downtown, and am grateful for the opportunity to brighten another person’s day by using my God-given personality. It’s an amazing experience and social environment to learn something new about someone or something every day.”
About the Main Street District
The Main Street District encompasses the 36-block area bounded by Gervais, Elmwood, Assembly, and Marion Streets in Columbia, SC. The organization provides public space management, economic development, marketing services, and public advocacy for the district. The non-profit seeks opportunities to fill vacancies in commercial properties by retaining existing downtown businesses and recruiting new ones, expanding the downtown residential base, and creating a safe, clean, and friendly downtown environment.
