Social Service Company Buys YMCA Building to Expand Services into Central Maine
Let me first start by clarifying specifically WHICH building Woodfords Family Services has purchased because, well you know, I don't want to cause any confusion. The Kennebec Valley YMCA has had multiple locations for years. The massive Augusta facility and a smaller building down in Manchester.
Well, you likely know that the Manchester location was permanently closed during the COVID and pandemic and the Granite Hill Road building was put up for sale last year. And now, after waiting for a qualified buyer, the building has finally been sold! Though the selling price was not immediately disclosed.
According to the Kennebec Journal, the building has been sold to a Maine-based social services company that is based out of Westbrook. The company, Woodfords Family Services, is excited to bring their social service offerings to the Central Maine area. According to their website, their mission is;
Woodfords Family Services is a nonprofit organization committed to the support and inclusion of people with special needs and their families in Maine communities.
However, before they're able to open the doors at their soon-to-be Manchester, Maine location, the building is going to need some renovations. I mean after all, it was most recently a fitness facility. Those renovations, according to the Kennebec Journal, could take up to a year to complete.
Kerry de Bree, director of development and strategic initiatives for Woodfords Family Services, told the KJ in part;
“There are significant waiting lists for clinical and behavioral health services statewide, but particularly in central Maine, so the demand for services is definitely there. The staffing is really the biggest barrier to being able to provide services to individuals coming off the wait list, whether it’s case management or a behavioral health program or a variety of other programs.”
Now, I don't want to get ahead of myself here, but I also just learned about another vacant building in Augusta that was sold and will soon be a tasty place for people to bring their business. But, they're not ready to announce yet so, sadly, you'll have to wait for that one ;)