Third & Center

New bike racks added to the area at Third St. and Center St. thanks to the generous donations from the community, Ohio Arts Council and hard work from the welding students at Collins Career Center.

So what is Third and Center?

Third and Center is a nonprofit started by Amanda Cleary, Abby Kuehne and Tyler Virgin dedicated to sustainably growing communities. The mission of Third and Center is to serve as a conduit for community building by facilitating conversation, connection, and collaboration amongst those desiring to positively impact their community.

Financial education is a main pillar towards community sustainability of Third and Center. As a result Third and Center has an ongoing financial education partnership with select local businesses in the area. Other projects include adding art in the form of crosswalk murals, artistic bike racks thanks to an award from The Ohio Arts Council and community donations.  The bike racks were designed and made by junior and senior welding students at Collins Career Center.  Third and Center held a contest to award the crosswalk installations to the winning artists.  Jesse Jiles, an artist from Lawrence County, won one of the crosswalk installations with his vibrant stepping circles design.  The other two crosswalk installations were awarded to residents at STAR Community Justice Center and included vibrant geometric designs and paper airplanes.

In June of 2020, Third and Center also partnered with STAR Community Justice Center, the city of Ironton and Sherwin-Williams in a project called #ErasetheHate where graffiti was covered with a positive message and hundreds of colorful graffiti hearts. 

Without the generosity of the local community these projects would not be made possible.

Contact us to learn how you can donate to Third and Center.

These stand next to the historic Masonic Temple. In the 1800s and early 1900s, the Masonic Temple that sat at this corner also housed an opera house.