The Town of Liberty has been awarded a $75,000 Community Action Grant through Maine’s Community Resilience Partnership, part of the latest round of state funding announced by Governor Janet Mills to help communities strengthen infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, and become more resilient to the effects of climate change. 

 

The award will support Liberty’s ongoing effort to repurpose the former Walker School into a vibrant, sustainable community hub that will house a community center, economic opportunity zone, and municipal offices while fostering the health and well-being of residents through municipal and social services, entrepreneurship opportunities, and dynamic recreational, cultural, and educational programming. The grant’s specific focus will be to assist the committee in energy efficiency and systems design and planning. 

 

“This award is important for creating a sustainable model for this vision to succeed,” said Elise Brown, chair of the Walker School Repurposing Committee, in a news release. “Our community has rallied around the idea that this beloved historic village building can continue to serve Liberty in new and lasting ways—as a place for connection, services, learning, recreation, local enterprise, and resilience. But with taxpayers already squeezed economically, we are determined to create a model that is affordable. With this grant, we can create a plan that best meets community needs while minimizing its operational costs.” 

 

Liberty voters previously approved taking ownership of the former Walker Elementary School after its closure, with residents and volunteers working to transform the building into a community asset that responds to local needs and preserves a cherished gathering place. The repurposing effort builds on broad community input and reflects priorities such as social connection, municipal services, early childhood and youth programming, senior activities, local entrepreneurship, and emergency preparedness. 

 

The Walker School Repurposing Committee reports strong progress in its fundraising efforts, with more than $2.7 million in grant applications already in progress, additional applications planned, and a robust donor drive underway. The project’s anticipated opening is July 2028. The Community Resilience Partnership, established in 2021, supports Maine communities in undertaking projects that increase resilience to climate effects and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the latest funding round, the State awarded $4.7 million in Community Action Grants to 72 cities, towns, and Tribal governments supporting 63 community-led projects across Maine. 

 

 

Community members are invited to support the Walker School repurposing effort at an upcoming Cornhole Tourney on Saturday, September 19, from 12 to 3 p.m., at Lake Saint George Brewery, in Liberty. Registration will be held in person or online, and additional information is available on Facebook. The brewery is sponsoring the event.

 

Prospective tenants, organizations, service providers, entrepreneurs, and other prospective tenants interested in locating in the future community center are encouraged to complete a tenant interest survey to help the committee understand space needs, infrastructure requirements, and potential partnerships. 

 

 

The Walker School repurposing project seeks to create a vibrant community hub in a beloved historic Liberty village building housing a community center, economic opportunity zone, and municipal offices. The project is designed to foster the health and well-being of the community and its residents through the delivery of municipal and social services, as well as economic opportunity and dynamic recreational, cultural, and educational programming. 

 

 

The Town of Liberty and the Walker School Repurposing Committee also recognize the important technical assistance provided by Midcoast Council of Governments and the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority. Their guidance and support are helping the community navigate planning, redevelopment, funding, and implementation steps needed to return the former Walker School to productive public use.