Downtown Facades Eligible for Upgrade Assistance

Photo: Elvert Barnes via Creative Commons

By Lee Burnett, submissions editor

Sanford’s downtown got another boost recently with an award of a $100,000 grant to upgrade building facades, according to the Sanford Regional Economic Growth Council.

It’s the second facade improvement grant in two years from Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. The money will be sub-granted to property owners pledging to invest at least 25 percent of their own funds for an award of up to $25,000.

“Sanford’s downtown is entering a renaissance,” said Keith McBride, executive director of the growth council. “The goal of our facade grant program is to incentivize new investment in our downtown commercial structures, and further the revitalization.”

Funds from the 2022 grant were used to make improvements at 880 Main St., a former 7-11 which was renovated and is now a T-Mobile retail location; 16 River St., a former CarQuest auto and garage which is under renovation to be a new riverfront restaurant; and 41 Washington St., where new windows and facade treatments have replaced the plywood boards that have secured the building for more than five years.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Mary Hastings, small business advocate at the growth council. She can be reached by phone at 608-4176, email at mwhastings@sanfordmaine.org, or by in-person appointment at 917 Main St., Suite D.