Downtown Sackville could get a major facelift this summer.
But the much-anticipated makeover will be contingent on federal and provincial funding coming through for the project.
The town announced last week it will commit a third of the $1-million cost required for the downtown improvements in 2013 – as long as the other partners come on board with their share as well.
Michael Beal, Sackville’s treasurer and acting CAO, said the downtown revitalization committee is in the midst of submitting an application for federal ACOA grants, such as the Innovative Communities Fund and the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund, among others, for the project.
“If the application is successful, then this (motion) commits $350,000 to the downtown revitalization upgrades,” said Beal.
The committee is also currently setting up meetings with the provincial Department of Transportation to discuss obtaining funds for some of the street and infrastructure repairs on Bridge and Main Streets.
“This is a $1-million project the town could do for $350,000, which would be really beneficial for the town,” said Beal.
Coun. Ron Aiken said several of the ACOA grants the committee is applying for expire by March of next year so “we want to get the application in right away to tap into those funds.”
He said the town’s pledge to provide funding for the project is a great show of support that should bode well on the application. And, if all goes well, Aiken said the upgrades could get under way by summer.
The town’s portion of the downtown redevelopment project will either come from capital-out-of-revenue funds or borrowed money from the Municipal Capital Borrowing Board.
Upgrades are expected to include: reconstruction of downtown Main Street, which has some of the oldest underground infrastructure in town; fixing the broken concrete, curbs and sidewalks along Main and Bridge Streets; expanding the sidewalk and creating a permanent patio space along Bridge Street; and possibly removing the hydro poles in the downtown core and adding trees.
