Office of the Mayor, Office of Innovation: Partnering with DigiBag to Promote Leaf Management

The Challenge

The City of Bloomington was faced with a significant shift in its leaf management policies, as it discontinued its vacuum leaf collection program. This presented a twofold challenge: effectively communicating the policy change to residents and educating them on alternative methods for managing leaves. Recognizing the need for community support and the limitations of traditional outreach methods, the city turned to local student entrepreneurs for innovative solutions.

The Idea

The city partnered with digibag, a startup that specializes in AI-powered digital advertising through wearable bags. Leveraging digibag's technology, the city aimed to enhance community engagement and disseminate crucial information about the leaf management transition to a wider audience. Digibag's unique design allows individuals to broadcast important messages to the public, offering a simple yet effective means of communication.

The Costs

The collaboration involved costs associated with running a digibag display tailored specifically for this initiative. Additionally, resources were allocated to integrate leaf management program details into the digital advertising strategy. However, the long-term benefits outweighed these initial expenses, as the approach provided valuable insights into how the community responded to the change in leaf management practices. The partnership was a free trial for the City of Bloomington.

The Benefits

The collaboration between the City of Bloomington and digibag yielded multifaceted benefits. Digibag's innovative approach transcended conventional methods of community engagement, reaching residents through a unique blend of functionality and digital outreach. The bags not only disseminated critical information about the leaf management transition but also captured audience engagement data, offering valuable 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 strengthening community connections.

Furthermore, the partnership facilitated an expanded network of support through Helping Hands, a program made possible by digibag's platform. This initiative not only connected residents in need of assistance with those willing to help but also fostered a stronger sense of community participation and collaboration. By promoting sustainable leaf management practices, the collaboration aligned with the city's commitment to environmental sustainability, encouraging 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