LIVERMORE FALLS – If local folks are serious about improving their town, they need to do two things, get a plan in place and get the support of merchants and the public.

Daniel Stevenson of the Department of Economic and Community Development, told a small group Wednesday morning at the town office that both steps are vital if they hope to garner up to $400,000 from a Community Development Block Grant.

The group has already been approved for a $10,000 seed grant and the town added $2,000 to it. These funds are earmarked to take the second step in the process: hiring a consultant who can develop a downtown revitalization plan.

Stevenson told the group that the block grant process is highly competitive and that a well-thought-out plan is necessary, one that includes public input about what is needed to improve the downtown.

“Citizen participation can make or break a grant application,” he said.

He also noted he has not received the original document back from the town, probably because Town Manager Alan Gove has been on vacation. No money can be drawn until the application is finalized, he said.

To get into the next round of funding, the application must be filed by Jan. 16, Stevenson said. Committee members agreed that deadline may be too close to make but they could aim for the next round of funding and have a better chance of winning.

The plan will have to be driven by what the town wants, he stressed, and one thing the proposed consultant may want to do is a survey that would include citizen needs.

He encouraged the group to get to work immediately on drawing up a request for proposal, describing what they want their consultant to do. He also suggested contacting other towns that have gone through the process and might be able to assist.

Stevenson also suggested committee members might want to visit other towns to see what has been done.

One downside to the major grants is that they require a 20 percent matching cash grant, not in-kind contributions, which are allowable for some grants. Should the town be approved for $400,000, it would have to come up with an $80,000 match. Some of that could be provided through other grants, he suggested.

Jodi Cornelio volunteered to chair the Community Development Advisory Committee. It also consists of Bruce Adams, Kathy Brown, Bernard Deshaies, Paula Isgroe, Ken Jacques, Guy Palmieri and Elaine Smith.

The next meeting was set for 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at the Town Office. It will be a brainstorming session to determine what the townspeople want and how to translate that into the RFP.

Everyone interested in the future of the town, revitalization of the downtown and development of the community is invited to attend.