WMSt Facade Improvement Grant Program

2005 Program Details | Download 2005 Application Packet (PDF, 588 KB) | 2004 Program Updates & Photos

2005 Facade Improvement Grant
Waterville Main Street (WMSt) is pleased to announce a second round of Façade Improvement Grants.  Any business or property owner located within the defined downtown district and wishing to make improvements to the exterior of his/her building was invited to apply for these funds.  A Façade Improvement Grant may be used for a variety of building façade rehabs, including painting, window or door repairs or replacements, signage, awnings, and other exterior building improvements. 

Façade Grant Program Highlights:
Match Ratio:  1 to 1
Maximum Grant Amount: $7500
Applications Due: March 18, 2005
Awards Announced: April 1, 2005
Eligible Applicants: Downtown Business and Property Owners within the WMSt District (pictured in the map below)

WMSt Design Guidelines
The WMSt Design Committee has developed comprehensive guidelines to help business and property owners plan their improvements. These Design Guidelines are not meant to stifle creativity or individuality. WMSt does not want every building in downtown to be painted the same color or be adorned with the exact same signage. Individual business and property owners are encouraged to be creative in thinking about the image that their renovated and improved buildings will portray as part of the entire downtown community. Find ways to enhance your building while complimenting your neighbor's building

Download the WMSt Design Guidelines (PDF, 4.8 MB)
Please note that this is a very large file. Hard copies of this document are also available by calling 680-2055 or stopping by the WMSt office at 177 Main St.

2004 Facade Improvement Grant Updates & Photos

2004 Facade Improvement Grant Program Status Report (2/9/05)
Eighteen (18) downtown business and property owners applied for funds to spruce up the exteriors of their buildings, and so far, 8 of the proposed projects have been completed. A total of fifteen (15) applications were approved by the Waterville Main Street Façade Selection Committee and cleared by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, a requirement of CDBG funding. Three applications are still pending, awaiting approval from Maine Historic Preservation. These are applications that required revisions to the scopes of work to meet the state standards or projects that simply needed further clarification prior to approval. The fifteen projects that have been approved represent $57,508 in grant funds, leveraging a total investment of $214,080. Several of the completed projects appear below.

A.E. Hodsdon Engineering, 10 Common Street, complete facade rehab
This spectacular project is a magnificent model of a complete and historically sensitive facade rehabilitation:

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AFTER:

Sign of the Sun, 22 Silver Street, new awnings
The first of many projects funded by the Waterville Main Street Facade Improvement Grant Program was completed on August 5th. The Sign of the Sun facade received some new pizzazz with the installation of two brand new yellow awnings to complement their design.

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AFTER:

People's Heritage Bank, 180 Main Street, pocket park landscaping
The People's Heritage Bank pocket park, located across from their 180 Main Street location, has received a much needed landscaping update, replacing the boxy winter-damaged hedges with rhododendrons, burning bushes, flowering crab trees and more - promising more color and vibrancy throughout the year!

BEFORE:

AFTER: