GIRARD — In 2025, the city saw new businesses come to the area, the return of ambulance service, work progressing on the Wellman Theater and the formation of a group to address the city’s downtown revitalization efforts and other improvement projects.

Mayor Mark Zuppo recently reflected on his second year as the city’s leader.

He stated Ohio Kids Dental will locate in the former Rite Aid building at Churchill Road and State Street. Zuppo said it took time to get the company interested in locating in Girard because company officials were looking at other parts of Ohio.

The 11,000-square-foot building will serve children under 18 and will include a play area and sections for both dentists and orthodontists.

“When I spoke to officials, they said they will target the underserved populations of the community and assist those families. We are fortunate to have this coming to the Mahoning Valley,” Zuppo said.

There are five Ohio Kids Dentals in the state, with others in Columbus, Toledo and Cuyahoga Falls.

Zuppo said when he spoke to the CEO, the two agreed it was all about serving the youth.

“When I spoke with them, they said they will bring a mobile dental unit to the schools. They are really good people we welcome to the city,” he said.

The city also saw the opening this year of Curealeaf cannabis dispensary, which also is near the intersection of Churchill Road and State Street.

Zuppo said the business will pay sales tax to the city that he estimates to be between $225,000 to $500,000 annually. He said the state receives 10% of the sales taxes, and then Girard will get 36% of the 10%.

Zuppo said he has heard the Niles marijuana dispensary on Route 422 is doing well and now some of those customers are coming to the Girard location.

WELLMAN THEATER

Zuppo said the city was able to secure $300,000 from State Rep. Sandra O’Brien, R-Lenox, for the Wellman Theater restoration on West Liberty Street.

Plans are to remove some of the exterior alleyway and do improvements to the roof.

Zuppo said he would like to see the theater project completed by 2027 so it can open. One of the main tenants will be the Millennial Theatre Company, which will host programs and events there.

“When we get the final architectural data from the engineers, we will then be able to move forward with a contract with the Millennial Theater Company and seek grants,” he said.

The city is also updating and modernizing the zoning codes.

“It is a 12- to 18-month process to modernize and update the zoning codes. We are already nine months into the process.

A company has been looking at all the zoning ordinances and has been looking for redundancies and antiquated ordinances. When completed, we will submit new zoning codes to council for their approval,” Zuppo said.

A related goal is to change the zoning department into more of a planning department, which Zuppo said will streamline and modernize the processes for contractors by having the information available online.

Also this year, the city started farmers markets, which took place weekly in the summer and early fall at property off State Street.

“It has been very successful. Because of the farmers market, we had a nearby parking area resurfaced for public use,” Zuppo said.

He said an LED message board was added to the greenspace area off State Street, providing local nonprofit service organizations with the opportunity to advertise events and fundraisers.

The mayor said the city has begun a state-of-the-art paving analysis of the city’s roads, working with PMG Pavement Management Group.

“The decision on what roads to pave will be data driven. We will pave roads based on data showing which ones need to be done first or are in the most need of work,” Zuppo said.

As for parks, Liberty Park now has a disc golf course, which is popular, and the Christmas in the Park celebration at Tod Park marked its second year with horse-drawn carriage rides and activities for families.

He said funds were secured for new picnic tables at Tod Park.

Zuppo said he credits park director Mike Cardiero for much of the success at the parks.

He said the city constructed two new pump stations, with one on Tibbetts Wick Road and the other on Churchill Road, which will help improve water pressure. There also was a new salt storage facility built off State Street.

NEW SAFETY DIRECTOR

Zuppo said the naming of Mark Ragozine as the new safety service director — replacing Sal Ponzio who stepped down — was a major addition to the city. Zuppo said Ragozine brought a lot of experience in economic development with him because he previously worked with the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.

He said the city is attracting fiber optic companies, which was something Ragozine worked on extensively at Eastgate. Zuppo said different fiber optic companies give residents more choices for their internet service.

“We want to help drive the internet prices down for the residents, and this will do that,” he said.

Zuppo said the city has been able to establish improved working relationships with economic development groups such as the Western Reserve Port Authority, Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, Eastgate and Lake to River Economic Development.

“We have really expanded our working relationships with them. They have been very helpful, with the city securing funding for different projects,” Zuppo said.

Zuppo said the city is working with the Ohio Department of Transportation to analyze the traffic signals on Route 422 to make fixes so traffic can flow 25 mph and not have to stop at every traffic signal.

DOWNTOWN FOCUS GROUP

Zuppo said a downtown focus group of local business leaders, school and city officials, and library representatives has been formed to work with Town Center Associates to address the revitalization of the city’s downtown.

“This is a good cross-section of the community working together to help enhance the downtown,” he said.

He said he has wanted to engage with the local business community.

“I want to work and engage with the local businesses and show that the city can play a positive role in their expansion. I work hard to promote Girard as the greatest place in the valley. On our signs we have ‘Girard, the Heart of the Valley,'” “he said.

The city was able to secure $175,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for fire hydrant replacement in the Parkwood area.

Zuppo said funds were secured for an environmental cleanup of the Ohio Leatherworks property off North State Street with plans to keep the biggest part of the property for a bike trail and park areas,

He said the city has secured $500,000 in funding for mandated improvements and upgrades by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the Girard Upper Lake spillway and other repairs.

He said plans and designs are being worked on by the Western Reserve Port Authority for the lakes property.

City hall also saw updates this year with remodeling of meeting rooms and offices. Zuppo said a former storage room was turned into a conference room.

“I wanted to bring city hall into the 21st century,” he said.

AMBULANCE SERVICE

The city also brought back ambulance service, which Zuppo said the residents are pleased about.

“The ambulance service is self-sufficien, and the residents have told me they are glad it is back,” he said.

Zuppo said he will continue to address getting more revenue for the city to expand on recreation and safety services. Zuppo said the city did face challenges in 2025, “inheriting a gigantic debt” of $1.7 million to the city of Niles for water.

“We dealt with it. There will be some water rate increases to the customers,” he said.

Zuppo said the city is addressing water bill customers, especially the highest offenders who owe a lot of money.