Maine's rural downtowns are the focus of historic preservation grant

Photo / Courtesy, No Umbrellas Media LLC Maine Downtown Center’s mission includes coordinating the Main Street America program in Maine. Last month, the city of Ellsworth became the 11th Maine community to achieve Main Street accreditation.

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By Laurie Schreiber

The Maine Development Foundation’s Maine Downtown Center program has received a $750,000 grant for historic preservation projects designed to foster economic development in the state's rural downtowns.

The money will go out in subgrants to historic property owners for preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or energy-efficiency projects in the downtown areas of communities served by the Maine Downtown Center program.

The funding comes from the National Park Service’s Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program.

“The National Park Service helps rural areas across the country revitalize their communities through historic preservation,” said Chuck Sams, the service’s director. “This locally stewarded work supports improvements to historic buildings, preserving America’s cultural resources while benefiting local economies.” 

The foundation was one of only 17 recipients in 15 states to receive the money.

This is the third time in five years the foundation has received the funding. Similar awards in 2019 and 2021 funded projects in Maine’s Main Street and Affiliate Communities including Skowhegan, Eastport, Bath, Norway, Dover-Foxcroft and Gardiner, Rumford, Machias, Ellsworth and Augusta.

The grant program is supported by revenue from offshore oil and gas leases, according to a news release.

The subgrant program, administered by foundation, is designed to provide financial capacity to encourage infrastructure development and leverage private sector investment, increasing the commercial, educational, residential or civic use and value of historic properties.

Grant applications and requirements for next year will be made available in January. For more information about the foundation, click here.

Established in 1999, the Maine Downtown Center serves as the state coordinator for the National Main Street Center, helping communities revitalize their historic downtowns.

The center’s mission includes coordinating the Main Street America program in Maine. Last month, the city of Ellsworth became the 11th Maine community to achieve national Main Street accreditation.