All of a sudden, Nostrand Ave is a lot cleaner.

The garbage cans are no longer overflowing. Who hires these ACE guys? Private businesses? 

Are these the ACE people you are seeing?
http://www.goodwillnynj.org/services/employment-services/brooklyn-assisted-competitive-employment-bace

If so, they receive funding from entities similar to those that fund a much larger, more well known version of themselves: http://www.doe.org/rwa.cfm

I definitely saw pairs of ACE men cleaning on Thursday.

But why have they suddenly shown up on Nostrand? The avenue has been riddled with trash for years.

I have worked pretty closely with such orgs, and they are often beholden to the desires of politicians and their appointees (ie commissioners).

The DOE fund began to be really active in Harlem along 125th St and Lenox Aves in about 1995, when it was clear that the areas had huge potential, but were not yet ready to form a BID.

I assume you see where I am going with this.

I think they're the result of a BID. Either way, I'm happy to see a cleaner Nostrand. I'll continue to snoop around. 

I am glad Nostrand is getting cleaner.   Does anyone know if there is a BID for Utica Avenue?

I do not believe the CH portions of Nostrand or Utica have BIDs.

They have dinky little merchant associations, which are different.

http://www.acenewyork.org/news/outstanding-service-brings-ace-to-church-ave-in-brooklyn/

Yup, that is the org I was thinking of.  

Above, I thought they were part of Goodwill program with the same initials, but ACE seems to be a standalone org with a mission almost identical to the Doe Fund.

And, this appears to be our funding source:   http://nypost.com/2014/06/24/city-council-oks-3-5-million-for-extra-neighborhood-cleaning/

Welcome to the neighborhood, ACE.

@whynot_31- Would you happen to know the names of the 'dinky' merchant associations?  I am not having much luck finding out any information. 

This one covers Nostrand, from EP to Linden: http://nostrandavemerchants.blogspot.com/?m=1

Here are more: https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=brooklyn+merchant+associations&gbv=2&oq=brooklyn+merchant+a&gs_l=heirloom-hp.1.0.0i22i30.1080.5728.0.8380.19.15.0.0.0.0.421.3230.2-3j6j1.10.0.msedr...0...1ac.1.34.heirloom-hp..9.10.3230.4q8WrspKfRU

Thanks @whynot31.  I am particularly interested in the Utica Avenue area between Eastern Parkway and Empire Blvd. 

@idarippa -
I'd reach out to these folks to see their present level of dinkyness:

Dec 1, 2014:
"Through the good work of Councilmember Mealy and Arna Lipkind, a new merchants’ association has been formed with the merchants on Utica Avenue."

http://www.communitybrd9bklyn.org/meeting/economic-development-committee-meeting-3/

Thanks @whynot_31!