HAWLEY -- This month, a downtown in Wayne County is getting a fresh coat of paint, and not just one business but all the businesses on Main Street.
Outside the Alchemy Studio of Hair on Main Street in Hawley, painters were putting a new coat on the building. When they're finished, there will be another and another and another.
Every place on Main Street in the downtown will get a makeover as part of a contest Hawley won from paint company Benjamin Moore.
"I voted for it to go through, very excited about it and how things are changing. Even though it's little by little, it's really coming together," said Christine Davy at Trish's Bagel Shop.
Benjamin Moore is footing the bill for paint jobs and fixing windows on the first floor of businesses as part of its "Main Street Matters" program.
Folks who work downtown say the storefronts and facades need a little TLC.
"It's looking awesome, awesome, a long time coming," said Dee Sabatino of Hawley.
The old bank building on Main Street in Hawley is now an orthodontist's office. With this project it will get a new sign, brick will be painted over and plastered, and new lighting will be added along with a whole new paint job.
"In one season, one summer, this is all going to happen altogether at the same time. There will be a drastic change in town," said Simon Knox of the Downtown Hawley Partnership.
The Downtown Hawley Partnership helped secure a matching grant from the state to help pay for improvements to these buildings for things like masonry repairs and new awnings, altogether a $160,000 facelift pretty much free of charge.
"A lot of people played a role in it, it's nice," said council member Mary Sanders.
All the painting and fixing should wrap up by mid-June.