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Main Street asks Skowhegan for incremental increase as board weighs using downtown TIF
Summary
Main Street requested an incremental increase to $85,000 in town support at the Select Board’s March 3 meeting; the board discussed whether some funding should come from downtown TIF revenues and heard that Main Street still faces about a $7.6 million fundraising gap for its river‑park wave feature.
Christina Canada, speaking for the local Main Street organization, asked the Select Board to approve a modest increase in town support — taking the town allocation to about $85,000 — while outlining the group’s mix of earned revenue, grants and private donations.
"We try to do incremental increases...we were at like 83 we're at 85 now," Christina said, explaining the $85,000 request represents roughly 7% of Main Street’s reported $1.2 million budget. She told the board Main Street has raised roughly $16.1 million in outside funding over the last decade and cited about $12.9 million in grant dollars leveraged for local projects.
Board members discussed whether part of Main Street’s town support should be funded through the downtown tax increment financing (TIF) district rather than the general fund. One board member suggested moving $50,000 of support to the TIF if eligible; others warned that TIF rules and the district’s finite life (noted to expire around 2030) require careful review. Staff said an application through the town’s TIF process could be appropriate for specific, downtown‑focused projects.
Christina also updated the board on the river‑park project: she said a contract for a boardwalk (phase one) is expected to start in April but the organization has not raised sufficient funds for the park's wave feature and faces a roughly $7.6 million shortfall, after recent fundraising of about $2.4 million. She said hiring a development coordinator is part of the plan to close the remaining gap.
The board did not make a final funding decision at the meeting; members asked staff to review TIF eligibility and possible proration between downtown and townwide benefits before the budget is finalized.
