NORTHFIELD — Through a municipal grant program, Northfield is hoping improvements to existing storefronts can draw more people — and businesses — to town.

Using $100,000 it received as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Northfield has been dishing out funds to businesses through its Storefront Renovation Program, which launched earlier this year and is now producing results for business owners.

The program was born out of residents talking with town officials about the need to revitalize Main Street and then a proposal from the town’s ARPA Committee.

“It really came from resident input, combined with the town’s effort to provide economic development with ARPA money because it’s much more flexible,” said Mallory Sullivan, the town’s grant development director. “We know thousands of people are driving through town every day on Route 63 and we hope these improvements will catch people’s eyes.”

Among the businesses that received grant funding are the Northfield Food Mart, Northfield Creamie, Cameron’s Winery, Stellar Kayaks and Fiddleheads Gallery. The owner of 75 Main St., which hosts several businesses, also received money to spruce up the site.

The main focus, Sullivan said, is on “exterior renovation and beautification” of the storefronts, as well as “non-permanent improvements” such as window displays.

At Fiddleheads Gallery at 105 Main St., the Deerfield Valley Art Association that runs the gallery and Community Bible Church, the building’s landlord, installed energy-efficient windows, replacing the car-dealership-style windows that were previously in place.

“They were not energy-efficient. It got really hot in there in the summer and really cold in the winters,” said Deerfield Valley Art Association Treasurer Kathleen Johnson. “These new windows are so fabulous and the contractors did a great job. It actually looks like a gallery now.

“The church has been very good to us,” Johnson added. “I can’t see how [the grants] wouldn’t benefit the town and the businesses.”

For Tim Bowen and his family, who run the Northfield Creamie, the grant program is a great example of “government at work” because investing in the town’s businesses can attract more visitors to town. Bowen said he is thankful for the town’s efforts.

“So many people are traveling through these little towns. … From a business standpoint, if you can bring them in and get them off the road, you can build a new client,” Bowen said. “It helps everybody in the town.”

With the grant money it received, the Northfield Creamie installed a new awning on the front of its building, put up lights for its outdoor seating area and “freshened up” its tables.

“If your place is rundown and looking sad, people notice it; if your place is bright and cheery and you put some flowers out there and dress it up and make it nice, people just feel good about it,” Bowen said. “If it’s nice, they’ll come back again and again.”

Sullivan echoed some of Bowen’s thoughts and said the town is hopeful its investment will pay off by bringing new businesses to town.

“This has been a great opportunity for the town to work with business owners and show there is support for existing businesses,” Sullivan said. “Hopefully it will be an indicator to prospective businesses that Northfield is a great place to open up.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.