Plainfield — The city has received a $500,000 grant to help the owners of buildings along Main Street spruce up their storefronts.

The project is intended to fit with the $5.9 million reconstruction of the pavement, utilities and streetscape of Main Street, or U.S. 40, that the town is working on with local, state and federal money.

Plan Director Joe James said the town was notified of the grant by the Community Focus Fund of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

In a news release on the town’s Web site, James said the grant money is to be available in the spring, and the work is to be completed within 18 months.

The money is intended to help with up to 80 percent of the costs to restore facades of old buildings on several blocks in the center of town.

James said the storefronts will reflect the look of a century ago, according to the plan for the U.S. 40 streetscape.

The town will contribute about $58,000, he said.

Merchants also will contribute to the cost of upgrades. Duke Energy and the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce already have contributed to the project.

(Star report)