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Girard seeks grant to revitalize downtown
As a first step, the city must target an area, a planner said.
GIRARD — City officials here are hoping a state-funded program will help make the downtown area a more attractive place to do business.
Julie Green, a Trumbull County Planning Commission member, said council members plan to apply for a community development block grant for downtown revitalization. She said the city, as a first step, must develop a plan and set a target area.
Councilman Tom Seidler said the target area for the grant likely will be along U.S. Route 422 between Broadway and Second streets, but that could be expanded to the south city limits depending on the scope of the grant request.
Green said the city can apply for up to $400,000 in funding to improve building facades and other maintenance issues. Those property owners participating in the program must match whatever funds are received.
Green added that the city, in order to be successful in acquiring the grant, must show that more than half the buildings in the target area are blighted or substandard. Of those blighted properties, 20 percent of the owners must agree to participate in the program. The city will be competing for the funds against other communities across the state.
“This is very competitive, but if you have a good concentrated effort ... I believe you can get this done,” she said.
Seidler said the plan will serve as an illustration of what could be accomplished if those in the community work together toward a common goal for the downtown area.
“We want a comprehensive plan of what Girard could look like if the city and business community work to achieve it. Right now we don’t have anything like that. I am trying to reach that point,” he said.
Seidler said council’s community development committee will make an appeal to the city’s Community Improvement Corporation for funding to develop the plan.
John Moliterno, CIC board member, said the CIC board has had unofficial discussions concerning a grant to the city for development of a plan, but is waiting on an official request before any formal discussion. He said CIC members have expressed interest in helping to make the plan a reality.
“We would be helping the city as well as getting a plan off the ground for the central business district,” he said. “It has been a long time coming for a plan for the city of Girard.”
Councilman Joe Shelby said any plan to revitalize the downtown area should be accompanied by a set of design review standards. He said creation of such uniform standards for buildings and general new construction is in the “talking phase,” but the measure would go a long way to strengthening the appearance of the city.
“In order to make us a more viable community and attract business, we need continuity in colors, architectures and building materials. That is what is needed,” he said.
He said ideas could be taken from communities such as Poland and Canfield that already have such uniform measures in place.
jgoodwin@vindy.com