LIVERMORE FALLS – In an attempt to boost economic development in the downtown, a group has applied for a Main Street Maine grant, requesting aid for a would-be project to renovate a historic building.
If the proposal is accepted, technical assistance would be given in creating an improved commercial building with an aim to draw businesses to the town center. Unlike some funding of its kind, the Main Street Maine grant does not provide any direct money.
“For us, basically this grant is not a money grant. It’s really more of a technical support grant,” said Paula Coombs, who teamed up with Phil Poirier and the Livermore Falls Betterment Group to apply for the money.
The grant provides for training sessions, facilitation of town meetings, an analysis of the downtown area, and assistance with marketing.
It’s offered by the Maine Development Foundation, a private, nonprofit corporation with a broad mandate to promote Maine’s economy. In 2000, the organization designated four towns as Main Street Maine communities. In the years since that number has doubled.
Coombs said the town has committed no money for the project, although if the proposal is accepted it likely will go before a special town meeting where she says support will be needed.
“It’s really the kind of a grant that you really need to have community support for,” Coombs said.
Grant finalists will be announced in July, with visits taking place over the following two months. Winners are told in September.
The building selected for improvement is owned by Kenny Jacques.
“This building is the only building in the historical district that never burned,” said Coombs. “It also had the most parking space and the most square footage.”
While Jacques’ building will receive the renovation, Coombs made clear he is not just being handed money.
“He doesn’t get any cash,” she stressed. “He’s committed to (giving) $200,000.”
“He’s been working for years on all kinds of different projects and efforts to improve Livermore Falls, and it kind of was a no-brainer when he came out on top of it all,” she added. “We were considering not choosing him because of that, but I said that was absolutely wrong to not choose someone because (they have) the most qualified building.”
The idea came out of an April seminar. Coombs and Poirier presented the idea to the Livermore Falls Betterment Group, which unanimously approved it, and the proposal was submitted on June 1.
At first “we kind of were steered away from it because we’re a small town,” said Coombs. “It’s usually hard for a small town to get the matching (money) they need.”
But Coombs quickly decided the reward was worth the time. She also noted that even if this particular grant is denied, when future opportunities come up much of the work will have already been completed.
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