NORWAY – A state grant to develop the C.B. Cummings mill site has been redirected to pay for downtown improvements, Debbie Wyman, director of Norway’s community development, said Monday.
Since the former dowel mill is under contract by a private company, public money set aside for its revitalization can no longer be used to improve infrastructure there, Marcy Boughter, vice president of Western Maine Development said Monday. Western Maine Development, a subsidiary of EnterpriseMaine, sold the mill recently to a for-profit branch of the Libra Foundation, which plans to build retail and residential units at the site.
Now, about $300,000 of state funding is available to spruce up buildings along Main Street, prettify the gateways to the town and purchase more historical signs. This is considerably more than the amount the town had expected to receive from the original Community Development Block Grant, which had earmarked $500,000 for the mill and town, with the majority of the money going toward rehabilitating the mill site, Wyman said.
The downtown revitalization efforts are part of nationwide push to save historic downtowns that have been neglected because of the arrival of shopping malls or large discount stores.
Wyman said she needs to firm up the grant changes with the state, but that once this step is taken, the town can divvy up the money.
She said $100,000 will be used to rejuvenate facades of buildings along Main Street, continuing a renovation program that began last spring. Already, 10 businesses have used grants ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 for facade face-lifts, Wyman said. These grants have to be matched by the owners.
“We’re going to be able to do another 10 to 15 buildings at least,” Wyman said. She encouraged business owners and landlords interested in the program to get in touch with her at Norway’s town office.
“Every time we put $100,000 in, that is another $100,000 generated,” she said.
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