Day’s Jewelers was one of nine recipients of FBIGP grant funding in 2019, completing the largest-scale project of the inaugural cycle.
WATERVILLE, ME, February 25, 2020 – Central Maine Growth Council (CMGC) has opened the application process for the second cycle of its Façade and Building Improvement Grant Program (FBIGP) in downtown Waterville.
FBIGP was established in 2019 to assist property owners and commercial tenants with the restoration, renovation, redevelopment, and repair of commercial buildings in Waterville’s downtown district. The grant program aims to encourage new and existing property owners and businesses to invest in their commercial storefronts, awnings, and signs, while restoring the original character of historic buildings and providing a catalyst for others to improve the visual appearance of their privately-owned buildings.
The inaugural 2019 grant cycle succeeded in funding nine façade improvement projects, leveraging over $290,000 of new investment in Waterville’s downtown district.
“The outstanding quality of the projects executed in our 2019 grant funding cycle has contributed significantly to the quality of place and aesthetic value of Waterville’s downtown, encouraging visitors to recreate, shop, and dine on Main Street,” stated Garvan D. Donegan, CMGC’s director of planning and economic development. “The investments made as a result of the Downtown Waterville Façade and Building Improvement Grant Program provide a strong foundation for the 2020 grant cycle and we look forward to reviewing applications which will enhance and revitalize the downtown district’s character.”
Program information, workshop details, and grant application materials are available at www.centralmaine.org/facade. FBIGP grant applications will be due on April 1, and awarded projects are expected to begin in the spring 2020 construction season and end in the fall. The grant program, funded by Colby College and the Bill and Joan Alfond Foundation for a total of approximately $70,000 in funding for the 2020 grant cycle, provides a reimbursement of up to fifty (50) percent of the total estimated project budget.
“It is incredibly exciting to announce a second grant cycle; we are building a cumulative effect of unique, attractive, historically-appropriate properties that will contribute to the city’s job creation and population growth. Every improvement helps to achieve that vision, whether it’s new paint, a redesigned awning, or a full façade renovation, and we encourage all interested business and property owners to review the grant application,” explains James LaLiberty, Esq., member of the FBIGP advisory committee.
FBIGP empowers Waterville’s downtown business and property owners to join the revitalization by highlighting the historic character of their respective buildings. Interested grant applicants are encouraged to review the program materials online (www.centralmaine.org/facade) and are required to attend the upcoming workshop on March 19 from 5:30-7:00pm. For additional details, CMGC may be reached at (207) 680-7300 or at director@centralmaine.org.
Last modified: February 25, 2020
