LIVERMORE FALLS — About $190,000 has been invested to improve the facades of business-owned buildings downtown.

Town officials expect some money to be left over from the grant to improve downtown streetscapes.

The town received a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant to help businesses improve the looks of their buildings. For each dollar a business used, it had to invest $1 of its own money.

About $95,000 in grant funds were used for rehabilitation work on seven properties, Economic Development Planner Amy Landry said Monday night during a hearing.

Landry, of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, which administered the grant, said $31,000 was spent on architectural, engineering and administrative services.

It looks as if about $24,000 will be left over, but that amount could decrease once everything is done, she said. The grant closes on June 30.

Businesses awarded grants were Nason Block at 1 Depot St., owned by Richard Baillargeon, up to $15,000; Wayne Knowlton, 15 Main St., up to $25,000; and Webber Insurance, Main Street, up to $8,200.

Also, Fitness Stylz, 17 Depot St., up to $3,000; Maine’s Paper and Heritage Museum on Church Street, up to $25,000; Chuck Wagon, up to $15,000; and Lamb Block, Kenny Jacques, up to $25,000.

Some businesses used all of the money awarded; others, such as the museum, only used part of it, Landry said. The latter used about $10,000 or $11,000, she said.

Some owners contributed in-kind work toward their match; others didn’t, she said.

The community committee overseeing the grant projects denied money to three applicants, Landry said. They were Bailey Bros. and Bowen Bros., both owned by Brenda Brochu, and 109 Main St., owned by Gregg Richards, Landry said. The projects were either considered not priorities or were outside the target area.

The projects were done to the architect’s specifications, and each had to go out to bid, Landry said. Most of the work was done locally, she said.

The town may use leftover money for streetscape improvements, including small parks, benches, streetlights, tree-planting, signs, pedestrian walkways, sidewalks and other features, Landry said.

If an owner sells the property within three years of receiving the grant, the money must be repaid to the town. The money will not go into the general fund but could be used to improve another business facade or streetscape, Landry said.

Town Manager Jim Chaousis said he had put in for an extension to use the leftover money and has ordered $10,000 worth of concrete-base picnic tables and benches. He planned to order metal trash barrels, but plans to hold off to see how much money would be left over and possibly fix a sidewalk. Millett and Union street sidewalks could use improvement and are in the specified area.

Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Louise Chabot said ordering trash barrels is important.

Brenda Brochu of Bailey Bros. asked why Millett Street was chosen. There is a committee member who lives on it, she said.

The committee member voiced concern over the same issue and was not in favor of it, Chaousis said.

It was not the member’s idea, he said. He and Highway Foreman Bill Nichols were trying to save taxpayers money by improving sidewalks.

“It is sad you ignored some businesses that applied,” Brochu said. There should have been a second round of applications, she said.

There was no time to do another round, Landry said.

“It’s sad that there were some pet projects” with the grant, Brochu said.

Kenny Jacques said he understood Brochu’s points, but overall the project was good. Committee members learned along the way what worked and what could be done better next time, he said.

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