SKOWHEGAN -- As the November skies spit snow this week, workmen were putting the finishing touches on a downtown improvement plan that has been two years in the making.

The men, resealing the rooftop on Hilltop Antiques on Tuesday, were working on one of the last of a dozen projects to be accomplished under a $100,000 facades mini-grant aimed at revitalizing the downtown. The grants were part of a larger $400,000 Downtown Revitali-zation grant approved in 2006, said Jeffrey Hewett, director of economic and community development.

Gregory Salisbury and wife Lynette, who have used the two-to-one grant dollars to spiff up the 1908, former Merrill Building on Water Street, which houses four businesses, are pleased with the outcome.

"I put a whole new front on my store, a whole new roof on my building and we have all new matching awnings coming for all four store fronts," Gregory Salisbury said. They also put raised panels on the outside, painted the antique store front and revamped and painted Lynette's gift-shop entrance on the Madison Avenue side.

"This gave us a chance to give our building a face-lift," his wife said. "All the woodwork was done, we caulked around the windows and painted. Next year, if they apply for and get another grant, I would like a new door."

Would they have spent the money without the grant incentive: "Probably not. I got 10 grand from the grant and I spent about $36,000 myself," Greg Salisbury said.

Likewise, said Becky Richardson, owner of Blueberry Cupboard gift shop across the street, who installed two new energy-efficient front doors.

"You just don't have that much in this economy," Richardson said. "The grants have just afforded us so much." Richardson, meanwhile, is going the extra mile to renovate the inside of her building as well, including painting the entire ceiling.

Hewett said the first $10,000 of the grant, as specified by its guidelines, was paid to a Portland architectural firm that provided renovation concepts that would also preserve the history of the downtown. Audrey Lovering, Main Street Skowhegan director at the time, also helped assemble and manage the grant in the beginning.

Grants to a limit of $30,000 were then offered with a two-to-one match by the business owner, with the merchant paying $2 for every $1 in grant funds. Labor and materials could be part of that match, Hewett said.

Twelve businesses took the plunge, including Steve Govoni, who restored the entire front of a former drug store turned restaurant-gift shop, on lower Water Street. He also ripped out and is completely renovating the interior as well, Hewett said.

Others that participated were the Skowhegan Free Public Library with insulation and upgrade of 14 windows and exterior painting; the Peace Tree clothing and gift shop, upgraded windows and painting; Prudential insurance offices, upgraded front window, painting and repointing bricks and The Bankery, a bakery, which replaced two picture windows and redid windows on the north and west side, Hewett said.

Hewett said the entrance of the law office of Merrill, Hyde, Fortier & Youney was repainted and upgraded, owners Computer Improvements redid their sign and the owner of the Sterns building replaced windows and is redoing the Commercial Street entrance. Empire Grill owners also did some repainting and fixed the restaurant entrance and Miles Carpenter Ins. is redoing its sign, he said.

Hewett said he expects most of the work to be completed by the end of December and hopes the town will be eligible to apply for another revitalization grant next year.

"This all really gives new life to the downtown," Hewett said. "In a lot of cases this is the first time some have had this much money to be invested in this many buildings in the downtown for years."

Darla L. Pickett -- 474-9534,

ext. 341

dpickett@centralmaine.com