NORWAY – A major hurdle toward building the Norway Office Park has been cleared with preliminary approval of a $2 million federal grant application.

“It’s a huge success,” said Brett Doney, president of the Western Maine Development.

The grant was approved by the Philadelphia office of the Economic Development Administration Sept. 30. It now will be sent to the Washington office for final approval.

The final review isn’t expected to take as long as the review that preceded it, Doney said.

The money will be used to create the public infrastructure for the environmentally friendly office park, planned for 161 acres overlooking Norway Lake. It is hoped that the park’s unique design and location will attract major businesses over time and employ up to 500 people.

The towns of Norway, Paris, Oxford, Waterford, Harrison and Otisfield have signed on to the project to date, supporting it with $600,000 in funding.