Innovation: City of Bloomington's Partnership with DigiBag for Leaf Management

The Challenge

The City of Bloomington faced a significant transition in leaf management policies, discontinuing its vacuum leaf collection. The challenge was twofold: informing residents about the change and educating them on effective leaf management alternatives. Recognizing physical limitations and the need for community support, the city sought innovative solutions from local student entrepreneurs. 

The Idea

Partnering with digibag, a startup specializing in AI-powered digital advertising through wearable bags, the city aimed to leverage this technology for increased community engagement. Digibag's advanced AI technology would not only offer a new engagement platform but also provide a means to disseminate critical information about the leaf management transition to a wider audience. Digibag’s design allows for individuals to broadcast important information to the public with a simple yet creative functionality. 

The Costs

The collaboration involved costs for running a digibag display tailored for this initiative. Additionally, resources were allocated to integrate the leaf management program details within the digital advertising strategy. However, the long-term benefits outweighed these initial expenses, as this approach helped understand how the community engaged with this new change in leaf management. This partnership was a free trial for the City of Bloomington. 

The Benefits

The collaboration between the City of Bloomington and digibag yielded multifaceted benefits. Through digibag's innovative approach, community engagement transcended conventional methods, reaching residents through a unique blend of functionality and digital outreach. The bags not only disseminated crucial information about the leaf management transition but also captured audience engagement data, offering invaluable insights into the effectiveness of the campaign. This data-driven approach empowered the city to tailor messages to different demographics, maximizing the impact of their outreach efforts while fostering a deeper connection with the community.

Moreover, the partnership facilitated an expanded network of support through Helping Hands, facilitated by digibag's platform. This initiative not only connected residents in need of assistance with those willing to help but also encouraged a stronger sense of community participation and collaboration. By promoting sustainable leaf management practices, the collaboration resonated with the city's commitment to environmental sustainability, fostering a greener and more responsible approach to managing natural resources.

METADATA

City Department(s): Innovation

City Point of Contact: Devta Kidd

Partner(s): Faiz Hanif

Partner(s) Point(s) of Contact: faiz@digibag.io

Date Implemented: October 2023

Type of innovation: Technology/Service