GIRARD — City officials are looking at ways to help develop and enhance the downtown area, including the Wellman Theater, which will partner with a nonprofit to seek grants and other funding.

Mayor Mark Zuppo, Safety-Service Director Mark Ragozine and Councilwoman Lily Martuccio, D-at Large, met with representatives from Columbiana to hear what they did to enhance their downtown.

Meeting with Girard officials were Columbiana Mayor Rick Noel, City Manager Lance Willard and Deputy City Administrator / Deputy Zoning Inspector Bryce Miner. The officials shared what they have done for downtown revitalization and attracting business to the community.

“We want to do what we can to improve the buildings we have in the downtown area and attract business and also beautification to bring people to the community,” Zuppo said.

Zuppo said he, Ragozine and Martuccio, as well as some business people and representatives of the school district, are part of a new downtown focus group. Zuppo previously met with Columbiana city officials six weeks ago, and they came to Girard to meet with the focus group.

“The first thing they told me was to have a focus group formed. We will meet and discuss how to go about improving our city and the downtown business area. They also told me to get the schools and students involved,” Zuppo said.

The focus group will meet monthly and discuss different ideas for improving buildings along Liberty Street and U.S. Route 422.

Zuppo said the Wellman Theater on West Liberty Street will be a central piece of the downtown.

Martuccio said the Columbiana officials gave her a roadmap on the process to address downtown improvements and upgrades to buildings and landscaping.

“We want to create a vibrant downtown and bring more businesses to the community,” she said.

Suggestions included downtown music programs for the public, local youth activities in their own corridor area and more input from local business people.

Council gave first reading to an ordinance to enter into a letter of intent with the Millennial Theatre Company for the operation and management of the Wellman Theater. Martuccio said the 501(c)3 theater company would partner with the city to seek grants and funding for developing the theater.

“Having a partner will help the city go after grants and have a better chance of getting them,” she said.

Martuccio said the theater company could help the city and also use the Wellman Theater.

In other business, Councilman Keith Schubert, D-1st Ward, said plans are to have an ice rink at Tod Park during the winter months. He said the ice rink would have synthetic ice and be located at the pickleball courts and old tennis courts at the park.

Schubert said they are hoping to have the rink available next winter. Council approved advertising for bids for the rink’s construction.