LISBON

Lisbon wants help — specifically, $300,000 — to make its downtown a better place.

The town council on Tuesday voted to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for improvements in the village area along Route 196. The effort is another step in the town’s work to implement the vision of its 2014 downtown revitalization plan.

The grant would help fund upgrades and enhancements to sidewalks and crosswalks, as well as lighting, landscaping and drainage improvements.

“Lisbon Falls and Lisbon Village are the traditional downtown areas of the town of Lisbon,” states the application. “These areas of development and activity were anchored by the large mills that supplied jobs for generations of Lisbon residents. With the closure of those mills and the loss of jobs and income they provided, the surrounding properties experienced high levels of disinvestment.”

The CDBG program assists local government with community projects. The grant must be used as part of a strategy that targets downtown service and business districts, making them more appealing for future investment.

Lisbon has until March 30 to submit a full application.

There were no public comments during a hearing Tuesday.

Facade improvement

Lisbon will be recognized for another program that encourages investment. Economic and Community Development Director Tracey Steuber said Lisbon won the Business Development award from the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments for its facade grant program. Local businesses can take advantage of the program to make exterior improvements.

The application also presents the town’s plans to meet the 25 percent matching funds required by the grant, such as money doled out through the facade grant program. The planned downtown improvements are anticipated to be completed by 2019.

Councilors will convene again tonight at the town office for a school budget presentation at 7 p.m.

chris@timesrecord.com

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