SPIRIT LAKE - Help has arrived for Spirit Lake's downtown.

The city has received a $500,000 Idaho Community Development Block Grant to help revitalize Maine Street from Highway 41 to Third Avenue and make the stretch compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"We took a serious challenge and turned it into a wonderful opportunity," Mayor Todd Clary said. "Our hope is that when people drive on Highway 41, they're going to look downtown and ask themselves, 'What did they do?' and turn off and come back."

The total project cost will be about $1 million. A combination of urban renewal, city, water district and Avista funds will pay for the other half.

The project is expected to go to bid in early July. Construction will likely start in August and wrap up in mid-November.

"We'll try to do some construction, but not tear up the whole downtown right before Labor Day weekend," Clary said, referring to the town's annual celebration.

Clary said Spirit Lake's downtown is in desperate need of repairs and an upgrade.

"There is serious danger with the sidewalks," he said. "If you go through with a wheelchair, you're risking injury."

Other improvements will include curbing, parking, trees, benches, trash bins, lighting, stormwater control and the replacement of an old water line.

"We hope that this will attract more business to the downtown," Clary said. "The downtown is the gateway to the lake."

Cam Criswell, who owns an art store called North Idaho Collection and a second-hand store called The Assortment on Maine, said tourism helps keep the town alive, but the downtown has deteriorated over the years.

"We're trying to make it more user-friendly and a focal point," Criswell said. "We needed a financial push to help us get there."

Plans for a trailhead at Third and Maine, along with improvements on Third and on Fourth south of Maine, were put on hold due to not enough funding. However, Fourth Avenue from Maine to the City Park will be improved.

Open houses were earlier held on the planning of the project.

The city hired an engineering and landscape architect for $43,500 to develop the design. The Panhandle Area Council performed the grant writing for free.

The grant is Housing and Urban Development funds that are managed through Idaho Department of Commerce.

Spirit Lake's boat launch area has also been revitalized and a ballpark is being added.

"This (downtown project) is the next step in the continual improvement of our community," Clary said.