RUMFORD – This once-rural community can now explore the possibility of becoming agricultural again, thanks to a $10,000 sustainable-communities grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Town Manager Steve Eldridge announced at Thursday’s board meeting that the grant came through late last week.
“This will allow us to study how the town can do improvements in the agricultural areas of the region,” he said.
He said the grant will allow studies of alternative agricultural uses of land, particularly those in the floodplain that cannot be built on. The study will also include a look at alternative fuel sources that can be grown and a possible expansion of farmers’ markets already operating in the area.
In a related matter, he said Friday that the town, together with the River Valley Growth Council and Threshold of Maine, have applied for a $75,000 grant that, if successful, would provide the opportunity to conduct an even more in-depth study of the potential of farmers’ markets and incubator kitchens.
“Many people in this area make jellies, mixes and other food items from their homes. An incubator kitchen could provide for a place for them to manufacture their products on a larger scale,” he said.
He is still waiting on two other grants that are aimed at revitalizing the town and area.
The town should hear next week whether it is successful in getting a $150,000 federal Community Development Block Grant that would assist business owners with sprucing up the facades of their stores. A major $400,000 federal grant for an overall downtown revitalization is also in the works, he said.
He said the Downtown Revitalization Committee has formed two subcommittees to look at Waldo and Congress streets. Both have a number of vacant storefronts. He said he has prospects that could fill at least a couple of them.
The revitalization committee plans to meet on April 10 and April 24 to continue its work.
In other matters, the board delayed action on a request by Tim Tyler to present a mud run on town property at the rear of the River Valley Crossing Shopping Center.
Eldridge said Friday that Jay Wise, owner of the shopping center, is scheduled to make a decision at the board’s next meeting in April on whether to allow the tentatively scheduled May event. Wise’s property must be crossed to access the site of the possible mud run.
The board approved a liquor license and special entertainment permit for The Shak at Byron Street and Oxford Avenue pending an inspection by the Fire Department.
Two neighbors appeared before the board to complain about the noise coming from the bar.
Tim LeCours suggested that the town enact an ordinance that would cover such things as noise levels and hours of operation. Blackie Parise said the level of noise coming from the business in the afternoons does not allow him to take his daily nap.
Eldridge said the town may look into writing such an ordinance. Whether it would be in time for the annual town meeting in June is uncertain.
Also on Thursday:
• the winter all-night parking ban was lifted. If the area experiences another snowstorm, it will go back into effect.
• a hawker’s and peddler’s license was granted to Lee Brawn, who does business as Mr. and Mrs. Sausage.
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