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Pathways committee eyes Main Street Investment Fund to help pay for sidewalks and streetscape work
Summary
Committee members reviewed Main Street Investment Fund (MSIF) materials (PA 11‑1) and agreed to study whether the MSIF could reimburse municipal sidewalks and private façade work; MSIF guidance in the committee packet (2014 application material) sets a $500,000 municipal ceiling and reimbursement rules for private owners.
Committee minutes show repeated review of Main Street Investment Fund (MSIF) materials distributed by Peggy O’Brien (the committee’s MSIF point person). The MSIF program is established in PA 11‑1 and summarized in attached materials in the committee packet; those attachments (application, fact sheet and FAQ) in the minutes are dated 2014 and were provided to the committee by Peggy.
What the materials say (as included in committee packet): MSIF provides grants up to $500,000 to municipalities (population ≤ 30,000 or STEAP‑eligible towns) for improvements that develop or improve town commercial centers—examples include façade or awning work, sidewalk construction, street lighting, building renovation, landscaping and bicycle paths. Municipalities may provide one‑time reimbursements to private commercial property owners for eligible exterior work that directly supports a grant‑funded project: reimbursements are eligible at 50% for the first $50,000 of a private owner’s eligible expenditures and 25% for additional eligible expenditures up to a cap specified in program materials.
Peggy summarized the key MSIF provision for the committee on March 21: "under the act, municipalities can reimburse private commercial property owners for cosmetic and structural improvements to building exteriors, signs, lighting, and landscaping visible from the street, including streetscape, outdoor patios and decks, or decorative post lighting." The committee agreed to study the documents and ask Peggy to present a fuller application checklist and eligibility needs at a future meeting.
The committee discussed what would be required to apply: a plan previously approved by the municipality’s governing body (a "town commercial center" plan), a municipal resolution authorizing application, project cost estimates, evidence of local approvals and engineering/permit assurances. The packet in the minutes lists application requirements and a DOH contact (Dimple Desai, Community Development Director) for submission.
Why it matters: MSIF reimbursements could help the town stretch limited local funds, including the $12,000 allocation, by pairing town capital with private investments and by supporting sidewalk or streetscape work that aligns with a municipal plan.
Next steps: the committee deferred the MSIF presentation until Peggy could present a completed checklist and examples of eligible projects and reimbursements. The packet materials in the minutes (application sections and fact sheets) remain the committee’s working reference for eligibility and deadlines from the 2014 materials provided.
Ending: The committee will revisit MSIF application strategy once Peggy presents detailed requirements and an implementation plan that aligns with RSA recommendations and local permitting needs.
