STRONG – A public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Forster Memorial Building for residents to consider applying for a Maine Community Development Block Grant.

The grant would help the Strong Advancement Committee explore investment and financing options for a community and economic development activity, said Raylene Tolman of the committee.

The work, being undertaken by four groups within the committee, will eventually roll into a comprehensive plan for the town, she said. While there is no specific plan at this point, the committee is trying to make a plan that will be a definite tool. A plan that will not just sit on the shelf but something that they can utilize and something that won’t have to rely on tax dollars to do, she said.

The group is applying for up to $10,000 that would be used to research what is the best way or how the committee could get investments into what they want to do, she said.

The committee is relying on help from Maine Rural Partners as they explore different options for funding, she said.

Tolman hopes residents are interested and will attend the meeting as they are really trying to find ways to move the town forward without affecting property taxes, she added.