CORNISH FLAT — The Cornish Community Initiative has earned a $727,000 federal grant to convert the former Cornish store into a community center and library.

The nonprofit organization is now about $600,000 shy of the $2.6 million it needs to commence construction on the building located on Route 120, said Merilynn Bourne, a member of the Cornish Community Initiative Fundraising Committee.

“Being able to say we received this award is really beneficial when you go out and talk to funders a second time or new foundations,” Bourne said about the grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission. “This shows the federal government believes in this project as well, and I think that’s huge.”

In March 2023, Cornish residents narrowly voted to accept the former store as a gift from Colleen O’Neill, a Cornish resident who purchased the property in 2016.

As part of the vote, the Cornish Community Initiative agreed to raise the money needed to renovate the store by 2028. The group, which was founded in 2019 and became a nonprofit organization in 2023, set its fundraising goal to $3 million to allow for any construction cost increases.

“If we can raise $600,000 between now and early fall we’d be able to start the work and that would be really exciting,” Bourne said.

Even though the building needs to be renovated, programs are currently taking place there. Clothing swaps, puzzle swaps and children’s programs have all proven to be popular, Bourne said. This winter included a Cabin Fever series, which features music and art exhibitions.

One group that frequently uses the former store is Cornish Aging in Place, a committee that assists older adults in town. Depending on the weather, about 16 people attend the coffee hours the group holds twice a month, said Jan Lord, co-chairwoman of Cornish Aging in Place.

“That place is better than any other option in town because it has better parking, it has easy access in and out for people. It’s centrally located,” Lord said. While the building doesn’t have air conditioning, it remains relatively cool in the warmer months, she said.

The Cornish Community Initiative has also supported residents who want to start programs. For example, the group helped set up two fiber circles that started meeting in January, said O’Neill, who chairs the organization.

“The CCI, our mission is to maintain and enhance the quality of life in Cornish,” she said. “It’s a very broad mission but there’s so many ways we could do that.”

Raising money to renovate the building is a big part of that.

“This new library and community center is really a legacy project for our community and when it is completed ... it will become an incredibly valuable resource for everyone,” O’Neill said.

The group will continue fundraising until the goal is met, then work with the library trustees and architects before sending the project out to bid, Bourne said. The town is still determining what to do with the current George H. Stowell Free Library, which does not have plumbing.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.