Milo -
Four years after a major fire devastated downtown Milo, the town is now rebuilding.
Community leaders broke ground Thursday on a new building on Main Street.
The Heritage Building will replace the Opera House block.
In September of 2008, a man in Milo intentionally started a fire to cover up a burglary at a restaurant.
The fire destroyed six businesses and left at least nine people homeless.
Town Manager David Maynard says he hopes the new construction will help the community overcome a number of challenges in the last few years.
"Many of them have been very negative in terms of how people have perceived the community and also how a lot of the community has perceived itself. Because of this project, this is really the start of rebuilding Milo and helping it become the community it needs to be."
The building has room for two businesses.
The first one to move in is Elaine's Café and Bakery, which already has a spot in town.
The other half of the building is still available.
Maynard says the $500,000 project was funded with a grant from the Department of Agriculture. The bakery also received a $60,000 grant.
Construction is expected to be finished by December.
There's also space for a second building.