ATTLEBORO - A plan to change the face of downtown has the backing of Mayor Kevin Dumas, who said he's pushing to get it to the city council by Feb. 6.

"We're trying for the sixth," he said of the urban renewal plan, which needs council approval and would authorize the Attleboro Redevelopment Authority to move forward with the project that aims to produce new housing, business, roads and commuter parking.

The process is taking time because administration officials are reviewing the 61-page document in detail to ensure they know exactly what's in it and to screen out potential glitches, Dumas said.

The pressure is on because U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, needs to know by the end of February if the city is moving on the project.

Failure to act could cost the city $10 million in federal and state funds that have already been set aside for some of the work. McGovern wants approval of the urban renewal plan as well as a commitment to fund the city's share.

Dumas said Friday he's aiming for both.

To that end, he endorsed the conclusions of an independent team of financial experts who analyzed the finances of the project and gave its OK for the first phases of the project.

Dumas said he and other city hall officials came to similar conclusions during their own analysis.

"It's nice to see they were thinking along the same lines," he said.

The panel, who are members of the Friends of Attleboro Interested in Revitalization, recommended dividing the project into small phases.

They put the city's share of the $14.7 million Phase 1A at $2.4 million. The city's share of the $10.2 million phase 1B was determined to be $1.1 million. The panel suggested the city could borrow to finance its share.

Dumas, who has resisted adding to the city's debt load for his first three years in office, said if there's a time to borrow, it's now.

"That's the train of thought we were taking, as well," he said.

"This needs to be viewed as an investment," Dumas said. "We feel this is going to make such an incredible difference to this city, and it is certainly doable." "I'm very optimistic," he said. "This is the closest we've been on embarking on one of the most important projects the city has ever seen."

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.