MACHIAS, Maine — A change in funding plans for the Community Development Block Grant program has prompted the town of Machias to seek alternative funding for its sidewalk project.
The Machias Revitalization Committee in October recommended to the selectmen that they seek funding for an engineering study on the town’s sidewalks, which committee member April Adams described as “unsafe.”
Committee member Christina Therrien, who also is the Machias town manager, said in October the town could apply for a Community Development Block Grant to fund the study.
However, in its 2016 program statement, the Maine Department of Community & Economic Development has downtown revitalization funded at zero, and a new program, Safe Neighborhoods, funded at $700,000 annually, Department of Community & Economic Development spokesman Doug Ray said Tuesday.
“That [money] is to be used … to help alleviate the blight of drug related crime in their community,” Ray said. “We’re going to do our best to … get the Safe Neighborhoods program going.”
The downtown revitalization project isn’t dead, according to Ray.
“It’s not been eliminated. It’s just zero-funded,” he said. “It is still in the program statement.”
A public hearing took place on the changes Nov. 4. Public comment will be accepted through 4 p.m. Nov. 14 by emailing Deborah.Johnson@maine.gov.
The Department of Community & Economic Development will make a final statement on its funding plans sometime next week, said Ray.
Contacted Tuesday, Therrien wasn’t overly concerned about the changes. She said she will simply pursue other funding sources.