NORWAY — Town officials and residents were told Thursday that as much as $600,000 in grant money may be available to Norway for downtown revitalization, but the money will require a substantial financial match and a lot of work.

“It’s very, very competitive,” said Terry Ann Stevens from the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Stevens was invited to speak to the Board of Selectmen about accessing Community Development Block Grants that might be used for work on the Lajos Matolcsy Arts Center, the Norway Opera House, Gingerbread House, Norway Memorial Library and other downtown properties.

Representatives from downtown properties and others met with selectmen to discuss what needs their buildings have and to see if a plan could be developed to apply for the grants in the 2012 round.

If the application is successful, Stevens said the town would have to come up with 25 percent of the $600,000, or about $150,000 in matching money. The money could be garnered from a number of different places including other grant money that downtown property owners or the town might access.

The idea to apply for the grant was generated from a request by the Western Maine Arts Group for the town to be the funding agent for a Community Development Block Grant to upgrade their Main Street gallery. The work would include shoring up the second-level floor and a side wall to make the building safe.

Town Manager David Holt told the Board of Selectmen recently that if the board decided to apply as a downtown area and not an individual, the amount of grant money available would be as much as $600,000 and would be available to upgrade downtown buildings in addition to the gallery work.

The board was told by town officials and others Thursday night that there were plenty of projects that need funding including a major underground drainage project along the east side of the Norway Memorial Library, estimated to cost about $10,000 to $12,000, and the repainting of trim and woodwork at the library that has been estimated to cost about $20,000 to $30,000 because of the lead paint.

Holt said the money could also be used at the Opera House to prepare the storefronts on the first floor for rental. Joan Beal reported that the Gingerbread House could use the money for numerous projects, including a new roof and other exterior work once the building is moved.

Stevens said applying for the grant money would take a lot of collaboration and input from the community, but that it was “very achievable.”

Normally only a handful of communities state-wide apply for the money each year, Stevens said. The applicants must meet strict criteria to be considered.

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