YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) -- Groundbreaking is set for a $1.3 million parish hall for an Ohio church that had two members killed in separate crimes two years ago.

The mayor and bishop plan to attend Wednesday afternoon's groundbreaking at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church in Youngstown. The church became a focus of crime-fighting issues in the hard-luck city after the killings.

The church hopes the parish hall project seating 300 will help revive the declining neighborhood.

In 2010 a 75-year-old man was killed as he and his wife left the church. Months earlier an 80-year-old parishioner was killed in the church parking lot.

The church has worked with elected officials, including the last two Ohio attorneys general, on safety issues.