FILE PHOTO / MAUREEN MILLIKEN
The Framemakers will update its façade.
March 17, 2023
Downtown Waterville businesses receive $150K to update facades
Courtesy / Central Maine Growth Council
A variety of businesses along Waterville’s Main Street corridor will use grants for façade and building improvements, as part of the city’s efforts to broaden engagement in revitalization.
Ten downtown Waterville businesses were awarded $150,000 in grants for façade and building improvements as part of the city’s efforts to broaden engagement in revitalization.
Complementing revitalization within downtown Waterville’s Main Street corridor, Central Maine Growth Council announced the grantees of its Façade and Building Improvement Grant Program. Eligible projects range from new awnings and signage to repointing brick and creating murals.
“Funding secured through the Façade and Building Improvement program will allow the café to invest in our main entrance to create a more attractive and welcoming entryway to our business,” said Bobby McGee, the owner of Selah Tea Café.
The grant program, funded by Colby College and the Bill and Joan Alfond Foundation, provides a reimbursement of up to 50% of the total estimated project budget of up to $10,000.
The program was established in 2019 to broaden engagement in Waterville’s revitalization, activated by over $200 million in recent investment by private and public sector supporters.
With the initiative now in its fourth year, the grant program encourages new and existing downtown property owners and businesses to invest in their commercial storefronts while restoring the original character of historic buildings.
Central Maine Growth Council has deployed 36 grants totaling $175,950 since the program’s launch, supporting and stimulating more than $2.25 million in direct investment in less than three years.
“From business and downtown revitalization to historical façade restoration, we have been thrilled with the quality of past applications and look forward to another round of impactful downtown projects,” said Garvan Donegan, director of planning, innovation and economic development at Central Maine Growth Council.
He continued, “Coming at a time of new traffic patterns, elongated sidewalks and pedestrian improvements, increased redevelopment activity, and significant downtown investment, the facade program continues to support the community in building off the downtown’s continued momentum while encouraging business and property owners to expand and grow new downtown initiatives, incentivize landlords to beautify and improve their buildings and streetscapes, and preserve our historic downtown district while fostering the conditions for small business creation, retention, and recruitment.”
This year, 15 applications were submitted and 10 were awarded:
- 177 Main St., Selah Tea Cafe, LLC.
- 147 Main St., Soul Revival Yoga
- 129 Main St , 129 Gudis, LLC.
- 90-100 Main St/65-67 East Concourse, Sidney H. Geller Trust LLC.
- 80-88 Main St./55 East Concourse, Waterville Investment Properties LLC.
- 74 Main St., Lion's Den Tavern
- 70 Main St., Holy Cannoli
- 46 Main St., the Framemakers
- 42-44 Main St., Focus LLC.
- 5 Silver St., Hinge Collaborative
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