Attention downtown merchants: the Washington Harbor District Alliance is asking for help.

As part of WHDA’s overall goal to promote and improve the downtown area, the organization is asking retailers and restaurant owners to offer insight and ideas for improvement, according to Executive Director Harold Robinson.

A meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Grub Brothers Eatery, and Robinson said he hopes the result will be more ideas flowing and the forming of two councils, one for retailers and another for restaurants in the central business district.

Robinson said WHDA President Chris Furlough came up with the plan for councils a couple of years ago and has sought to make it a reality.

“What the WHDA wants to do is to be able to help the merchants downtown, and by doing that, what better input can we get than from them?” Robinson said. “What can we do to really help you, and what’s on your mind?”

The vision is for each council to have a handful of people who meet throughout the year to discuss issues and report back to WHDA, he said.

Robinson said WHDA is always striving to serve downtown businesses, but the organization feels it can do a better job if it hears directly from the business owners.

“We really try, but they’re the ones that are on the front line, and they’re the ones who are going to know,” he said. “It’s all about everybody pitching in and helping.”

Once the retail and restaurant councils are off the ground, WHDA hopes to then form another council for professionals, such as lawyers or insurance agents, according to Robinson.

He said he views the councils as a way for Washington’s downtown to take steps forward and do that with the help of one another. Wednesday’s meeting will serve as the first step toward making the councils a reality.

“I think it’s a grand idea. I really do,” Robinson said.

Downtown retailers and restaurant owners are invited to attend the Wednesday meeting at 8:30 a.m. at Grub Brothers Eatery.