CO P P E R S TAR CE RTI F I CATI ON

P RO G R A M OV ERV I EW & A PPL I CAT I O N FO R MS

JA N UA RY 2023

PRODUCED BY 24HOURDALLAS | GOOD NEIGHBOR INITIATIVE | 24HOURDALLAS.ORG

COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION

OU R DEEPEST THA NKS

24HourDallas thanks those who are officially supporting our

Good Neighbor Initiative and its Copper Star certification program.
As of publication, our supporters were:

MAJOR SPONSOR NATIONAL PARTNERS

Pernod Ricard USA Responsibility.org
Safe Night LLC

LOCAL PARTNERS
Artstillery
Business Council for the Arts
Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center
Dallas Harm Reduction Aid
Dallas Hope Charities
EarthX
The Episcopal Church of
St. Thomas the Apostle
Faith Forward Dallas
Hospitality Coalition Against
Domestic Violence
Hotel Association of North Texas
MADD
Methodist Dallas Medical Center’s
Trauma & SANE programs
p. 2
Mosaic Family Services
New Friends New Life
North Texas Coalition Against
Human Trafficking
Pavé Group
Somos Tejas
Texas Restaurant Association –
North Texas Region
Thanks-Giving Foundation
Unbound North Texas
VisitDallas
 p. 3
TA BL E OF CO NTENTS

What’s This Thing Called 24HourDallas? 4

We’re a grass-roots group committed to ensuring
that in Dallas, the night is for everyone.

About the Copper Star Certification  5

Read why ‘Copper Star Certified’ is a designation
you will be proud to promote.

How You’ll Benefit from Becoming Copper Star Certified  7

Paid-for advertising that will promote
your status across North Texas. And more!

How Does the Copper Star Certification Process Work? 8

Earn your certification over five months as you make
your operation safer, cleaner and more inclusive.

The 2023 Certification Program Timeline  10

Review the Copper Star certification milestones
you’ll want to stay on top of.

Districtwide Certification 11
How does a business or entertainment district attain
Copper Star Certification? A hint: IT’S SIMPLE.

How to Apply 12
Applying to enter the Copper Star certification program
takes just five minutes and not a single cent.

Copper Star Application 13

Submit this form to become part of the Copper Star
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION

certification process. There’s no fee to apply!

Copper Star Corporate Application 14

Submit this form if you are a corporate entity
applying on behalf of multiple locations.
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION
W H AT ’S T H I S T HING CA L L ED 24HO URDA L L A S?
We hope your business, organization or
venue will choose to take your brand to the
next level by applying for the elite Copper
Star certification offered by 24HourDallas
and its partners, including Safe Night LLC.
What is 24HourDallas?
We’re a non-profit organization that’s
shining a brighter spotlight on how vital the
nighttime economy can be in Dallas. As well
as on the many opportunities we have to
make the city even more 24-hour friendly.
Who Makes Up the Membership of
24HourDallas?
Well, hotel groups and healthcare providers.
Restaurant owners and bar owners. Cultural
organizations and entertainment venues.
Grocery outlets, faith-based groups, food
and beverage distributors and a whole host
of impassioned individuals. All of whom
want to make Dallas’ nighttime experience
more safe, interesting and economically
vibrant.
View our business and organization
members
View our individual members
How Connected Are We?
Locally, we’re collaborating closely with
the City of Dallas’ Office of Economic
Development, VisitDallas, the Hotel
Association of North Texas, the Texas
Restaurant Association’s North Texas
Region and several other entities who want
p. 4
Questions?
Contact us at contact@24hourdallas.org
Dallas at night to be as safe and vibrant as
possible.
Meanwhile, our efforts are inspired by
nighttime advocacy groups in cities like
New York, Montréal, Barcelona, Tokyo and
Vienna. That’s why 24HourDallas belongs to
Nighttime.org, a consortium that’s
advocating for more enriching night times in
cities and towns worldwide.
Help Us Nudge Dallas Toward Becoming
A More 24-Hour City, Won’t You?
It’s through our Good Neighbor Initiative,
and its Copper Star certification program,
that we reinforce our belief that positive
change becomes truly sustainable when you
reward those willing to embrace it.
For at the core of our Good Neighbor
Initiative are the goals of both empowering
nighttime businesses and encouraging them
to build and maintain positive relationships
with their residential and commercial
neighbors.
Please consider joining us in our quest to
ensure that in Dallas, ‘The Nighttime is for
Everyone.’
Learn more about 24HourDallas
 A BOU T T H E COPPER STA R CERTIF ICATIO N
What Does Copper Star Certification Represent?
In a word, excellence.
Should your operation attain our elite Copper
Star certification, you’ll have proven that your
business, organization or venue excels at being
safe, comfortable, appealing, well-managed and
community friendly. Particularly for those who
patronize you at night.
The Prestige of Copper
Copper symbolizes quality (think copper pots
and pans). And wellness (think copper bracelets).
For centuries, it has also been associated with
cleanliness (think copper countertops).
The Symbol of the Star
The star, meanwhile, references both the Lone
Star of Texas and the decorative stars found on
many structures across America, placed there to
bring the owners good luck and prosperity.
And of course, here in Texas, it’s the stars at night
that are big and bright.
p. 5
Start Earning Your Copper Star Now!
So, we at 24HourDallas believe a Copper Star
is the perfect reward for the steps you’ve
taken to become the best neighbor possible.
Upon achieving your Copper Star status, you’ll
receive an honest-to-goodness copper star
you can display with pride.
If you are a business, organization or venue
in Dallas that is open at any point between
6 p.m. and 6 a.m., we hope you’ll choose to
participate in our Copper Star certification
program.
Go to the application form
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION
Questions?
Contact us at contact@24hourdallas.org
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION p. 6
 B E S I D E S T H E C U T E STA R, HOW DO WE B ENEF IT
F ROM BE I N G CO PPER STA R CERTIF IED?
In addition to the decorative copper star,
those who become Copper Star Certified will
also receive:
• INCREASED STATUS, provided through
high-profile recognition at a public event
in Dallas in the summer of 2023.
• EVEN MORE STATUS, provided through
your ability to use the Copper Star
Certified seal in your advertising and social
media for the tenure of your certification.
• GREATER EXPOSURE, provided through
the Copper Star Certified seal appearing
on the 24HourDallas website and tourism /
event website calendars. Those listings will
link to the recipients’ websites.
• EVEN GREATER EXPOSURE, provided
through an ad in regional news outlets
that will list the year’s Copper Star
recipients.
• MULTIPLE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES,
provided through the Copper Star Program
such as anti-human trafficking, active
bystander, inlusion trainings, and more.
p. 7
Other potential benefits of becoming Copper
Star Certified include:
• GREATER REVENUE from those customers
/ patrons who are specifically looking for
nighttime options that are safer and more
welcoming than most.
• HIGHER ONLINE RATINGS from
customers / patrons who’ve noticed your
efforts to become a safer, tidier and more
welcoming business.
• FASTER HIRING as your operation attracts
more of those prospective employees who
are seeking nighttime employment that
will be safer and more welcoming than
most.
• BETTER EMPLOYEE MORALE as they
know they work for an operation that’s
been officially rewarded for its efforts to
excel and more deeply involved in the
community.
• LOWER LIABILITY COSTS as your premises
become safer for your staff and customers
/ patrons.
• LOWER LEGAL COSTS as the chance for
crime and harassment on your property,
and complaints from nearby residents and
businesses, decline.
Go to the application form COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION
Questions?
Contact us at contact@24hourdallas.org
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION

HOW D OE S T H E C E RTIF ICATIO N PRO CESS WO RK?

The Copper Star certification process has six steps:

1 A P P LY TO E N T E R T H E P RO G R A M

Submit your application to enter the Copper Star certification process before 11:59 p.m., January
31, 2023. There is no fee to apply. We’ll notify you within 10 days if you can begin the certification
process.

You can participate if you are a business, organization or venue that is:
• located within the city limits of Dallas.
• open at some point between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• hosting customers / clients / patrons onsite during those hours.
• willing to host a friendly site visit by our certification judges to verify you’ve met the criteria
you say you have.

Corporate entities with multiple locations: You can apply to the program on behalf of all your

2 R E V I E W T H E O F F I C I A L CO P P E R S TA R C E RT I F I C AT I O N G U I D E

Once we’ve approved your application, you’ll receive access to the Copper Star certification guide.

That guide outlines the many ways you can earn points toward your certification. It will also tell you
how many points you will earn for each benchmark you reach and the total points you’ll need to
attain your Copper Star certification.

3 S TA RT E A R N I N G P O I N T S TOWA R D YO U R C E RT I F I C AT I O N

You have five months to amass the points you’ll need to become Copper Star Certified. You earn
points by meeting certain criteria, which fall into four categories:

• SAFETY & WELL-BEING — (Steps you take to reduce crime and make staff and patrons feel safe)
Examples: First-aid kit handy, policies that prevent impaired driving, training from Safe Night
LLC, etc.

• INTERNAL OPERATIONS — (Policies and procedures for improving your day-to-day operations)
Examples: When to call the police, when to evict patrons, how to record injuries, etc.

• COMMUNITY RELATIONS — (Actions you take that show mindfulness toward your neighbors)
Examples: Community events you’ve hosted, neighborhood contributions you’ve made, etc.

• APPEAL / ATTRACTIVENESS — (The look, condition and creativity of your operation)

Examples: Clean bathrooms and parking lots; no broken furniture, stairs or handrails, etc.
p. 8

Questions?
Contact us at contact@24hourdallas.org
You likely have already met many of the benchmarks listed in the guide. If so, you can claim the

p. 9
points associated with those benchmarks right away.

Then, use the guide to amass additional points toward Copper Star certification, making your
business, organization or venue even more neighbor friendly in the process.

Note: You do not have to meet ALL of the benchmarks in the guide to become certified —
just enough to earn the points one needs to reach the certification threshold. (Refer to the
forthcoming guide for that number). And if you’re a 24HourDallas member, you’ll amass
MORE points for each benchmark you reach.

Join 24HourDallas

In the guide, you’ll see that the benchmarks that earn you the most points involve taking training
offered free by one of our partners, watching an informational video and adopting some best-
practice policies. 24HourDallas will work with you to make it is as convenient as possible for you to
meet those benchmarks, should you choose to do so.

4 F I L L O U T A N D S U B M I T YO U R S E L F-A S S E S S M E N T

In May, we’ll make available to you the program’s self-assessment form.

Use this form to document all the program benchmarks you’ve met and describe any other actions
you’ve taken that you believe should earn you bonus points. You can continue to earn points as
you’re filling out this form.

To become certified, you must submit your self-assessment form to us by 11:59 p.m. on
June 30, 2023.

5 W E V E R I F Y YO U R AC H I E V E M E N T S

Throughout July, 24HourDallas and its partners will verify you’ve achieved the program benchmarks
you listed on your self-assessment form. We’ll also consider any special extra steps you’ve taken to
become Copper Star Certified and decide whether they merit bonus points.

The verification process will involve a friendly site visit, just to ensure the achievements you’ve
outlined in your self-assessment form are in place (signs are posted, policies are written, etc.)

6 CO P P E R S TA R W I N N E R S A R E A N N O U N C E D

On August 21, 2023, you’ll learn whether or not you successfully earned your certification.

If you have qualified, congratulations! Your certification will be in effect for 16 months, from
August 22, 2023, until December 31, 2024. At that time, you can begin the recertification process.
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION

Questions?
Contact us at contact@24hourdallas.org
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION

TIMELINE

JA N UA RY 3 1 , 2 0 2 3

Application
F E B R UA RY — J U N E 2 0 2 3 Deadline

Accumulate
Points JUNE 30, 2023

Self-Assessment
J U LY 2 0 2 3 Form Deadline

Verification
Period AU G U S T 2 1 , 2 0 2 3

Winners
Announced
p. 10

Questions?
Contact us at contact@24hourdallas.org
 p. 11
D I S T RI C T WIDE CERTIF ICATIO N

Let’s say your business, organization or venue operates within a well-defined district. Like Deep
Ellum, Uptown, the Fort Worth Avenue corridor, the Cedars or Trinity Groves.

The good news is your entire district can become Copper Star Certified. The even better news is
your district doesn’t have to do anything to earn the distinction.

24HourDallas will automatically bestow Copper Star status upon a district when at least 60
percent of its nighttime businesses have earned the certification on their own.

And to make things even easier for you, you won’t need to keep track of your district’s certifications.
We’ll be doing that for you!

Go to the application form

COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION

Questions?
Contact us at contact@24hourdallas.org
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION

OK , W E ’RE IN. HOW DO WE A PPLY ?

Earning your Copper Star status may require some work.

But applying for it does not.

You’ll spend less than five minutes, and not a single cent, to complete and submit your application.
Just be sure you submit your form to us by 11:59 p.m. CT, January 31, 2023.

Go to the application form

p. 12

Questions?
Contact us at contact@24hourdallas.org
 p. 13
A P PL ICATIO N FO RM

Copper Star Certification Program

Note: We welcome businesses, organizations and event venues located within the city of Dallas to
apply for entry into the Copper Star certification program.
Are you a corporate entity wanting to apply for multiple locations? Use this form instead.
* REQUIRED INFORMATION

* NAME OF BUSINESS / ORGANIZATION / VENUE:

* STREET ADDRESS (WITH CITY AND STATE):

* EMAIL ADDRESS:

* PHONE NUMBER: NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:

WHO WILL BE YOUR POINT OF CONTACT DURING THE CERTIFICATION

PROCESS? (February – August 2023)

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THAT PERSON (CELL & EMAIL):

YES NO
Are you open at any point between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.?

Do you host customers / clients / patrons at your location

at any point during that timeframe?
Is your enterprise open to having someone on your staff
undergo free, best-practice training?
Are you open to 24HourDallas conducting a friendly site visit,
to verify you’ve met the program benchmarks you say you have?
Do you agree to display your Copperstar Certified medallion somewhere easily
visible in your business?
Do you agree to attend two check-ins with 24HourDallas staff during the five months
of the certification period to ensure progress and completion of the program?
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION

That’s it! To qualify for Copper Star certification, submit this application before January 31, 2023.
TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
1) Save this application to your device
2) Attach it to an email, addressed to: contact@24hourdallas.org
You should hear from us within 10 days as to whether you’ve qualified to join the certification
process. Thanks for your patience, and good luck! Questions?
Contact us at contact@24hourdallas.org
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION

A P P L ICATIO N FO RM

Corporate Entities with Multiple Locations

Note: Use this form if you are a corporate entity applying on behalf of multiple locations of yours
within the city limits of Dallas. Corporate applicants are responsible for ensuring their location
managers and staffs are aware of their participation in the Copper Star certification program
and the responsibilities that entails.
* REQUIRED INFORMATION

* NAME OF CORPORATE ENTITY:

* STREET ADDRESS OF CORPORATE ENTITY:

* CORPORATE CONTACT PERSON:

* EMAIL ADDRESS FOR CORPORATE CONTACT:

* CELL NUMBER FOR CORPORATE CONTACT:

YES NO
Are the locations you are applying for open
at any point between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.?
Do your locations host customers / clients / patrons
at any point during 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.?
Are your locations open to having someone on their staffs
undergo free, best-practice training?
Are they open to 24HourDallas conducting a friendly site visit,
to verify they’ve met the program benchmarks they say they have?
Do you agree to display your Copperstar Certified medallion somewhere easily
visible in your business?
Do you agree to attend two check-ins with 24HourDallas staff during the five months
of the certification period to ensure progress and completion of the program?

NUMBER OF LOCATIONS YOU ARE APPLYING FOR:

TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION, save it to your device and attach it to an email, addressed to:
contact@24hourdallas.org. The application deadline is 11:59 pm, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2023.
You should hear from us within 10 days as to whether you’ve qualified for the certification program.
If you are accepted into the program, we’ll send you another form you can use to provide us with
the details we’ll need for each location that will be participating in the program.
p. 14

Questions?
Contact us at contact@24hourdallas.org
 p. 15
COPPER STAR CERTIFICATION

24HourDallas is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to make Dallas safer,

more inclusive and more vibrant at night for residents, businesses and guests.
www.24hourdallas.org