LEWISTON — A local woman and the Lewiston Auburn Railroad Co. will get city help turning the Grand Trunk Depot into a rail-themed cafe.

Councilors approved $370,000 in financial assistance to help redevelop the property. That includes a $200,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, $115,800 of Lewiston’s Community Development Block Grant allocation in a second grant and $55,000 from the railroad itself.

Railroad President Lucien Gosselin declined to name the woman hoping to renovate the property, but said she expects to invest $230,000 of her own money to fix up the property, turning it into a cafe.

Councilors only differed on how to fund their share of the investment. Councilors John Butler, Larry Poulin and Mark Cayer said they preferred giving the railroad $55,000 in a grant and $60,700 in a loan that would be repaid over 15 years with 3 percent annual interest.

But councilors voted down that measure, saying the railroad has worked with the city, helping to develop the Simard Payne park and helping to promote the Great Falls Balloon Festival.

“When we’ve needed them to, they’ve stepped up,” Councilor Stephen Morgan said. “I think we can do this. It really is a very small amount.”

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