BUCKSPORT – Town officials are seeking state help in sprucing up commercial buildings along Main Street.

The town’s economic development committee has prepared an application for a $125,000 state grant that would be allocated to property owners who want to make improvements to the exterior of their commercial buildings. The application will go to the Town Council for approval Thursday.

The committee initially had targeted the area along Main Street between School and Mechanic streets.

According to Dave Milan, the town’s economic development director, there was some public sentiment to extend the eligible area one block, so the council likely will consider the area between School and McDonald streets.

The council will have to designate that area as a “blighted area” in order for it to be eligible for the grant.

“We need to use that terminology,” Milan said Tuesday. “A blighted area is where the building exterior is less than optimal to the eye.”

That could mean a variety of problems, such as peeling paint or damaged trim, he said, “anything that could detract from surrounding buildings.”

If the application is successful, the committee will develop an application for property owners to use in applying for minigrants they can use to upgrade their buildings. The grants are limited to commercial building – whether they are for for-profit or nonprofit operations.

The committee is considering adding money to the grant fund from the tax increment financing account. Such a move would increase the town’s chances of winning the grant and also provide additional funds to reduce the overall costs to property owners.

The town’s new comprehensive plan identifies improving the buildings along Main Street as a town priority, Milan said.

Many of the buildings along Main Street have commercial operations on the first floor and apartments above. The grants can be used to improve such buildings, Milan said.

Improvements can include lighting, siding, awnings and other such work on the buildings. Milan said he expects many of the property owners will look at siding choices, because the weather along the river can be hard on painted surfaces.

“One of our goals is not only to make the buildings look more attractive, but also to decrease the amount of maintenance required so they stay looking nice for longer periods,” he said.

If the council approves the application Thursday, the town should hear by mid-February whether it has qualified for the grant. If the town receives the grant, Milan said, the money should be available for property owners to begin work on their buildings this spring.