A $10 million community center, designed to serve children, families and seniors from across the Kennebec Valley region, broke ground in Gardiner on Wednesday with over 100 supporters in attendance.
The groundbreaking for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kennebec Valley center marked a milestone, after the nonprofit raised funds for over four years to build the community facility, according to a news release.
The goal of the new clubhouse is to serve more children and seniors.
The club still needs to raise $650,000 to reach the $10 million goal of its “Great Futures” capital campaign, but is moving forward with construction to better serve the community. Once built, the new clubhouse will nearly triple its capacity.
The club is located at 14 Pray St. in Gardiner. Its current clubhouse is in a 1956 school building on 7.5 acres. The new clubhouse will be on the same acreage.
Given the age of the building, extensive maintenance required and current state guidelines with COVID-19, the building has reached the end of its useful life, according to the club’s website. The new build is expected to be significantly more cost-efficient and create an opportunity to expand membership as well as meet growing need.
“This is a huge day for the community and for families in the Kennebec Valley region,” Ingrid Stanchfield, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kennebec Valley, said in the release. “Our staff has been working tirelessly for several years, including during the pandemic to get to where we are today.”
The club’s board recently signed a construction contract with Lajoie Brothers Inc. to build the facility.Â
Reaching the $10 million goal is expected to allow the club to open the new facility without debt and to put more resources toward programming and staffing.Â
Many residents, community organizations and local businesses donated to the campaign, including Bangor Savings Bank, Central Maine Power, G&E Roofing, Kennebec Savings, Pine State Trading, Team EJP and others. The club has used matching grants, community outreach, advertising and social media to boost fundraising efforts.
The capital campaign got a major boost March 16 when the Gardiner City Council pledged $500,000 from revenue from the Libby Hill Tax Increment Financing district and the city’s fund balance.
The club remained opened during the pandemic, providing critical child care and remote learning for as many as 300 children. In addition to those services and after-school programs, the club has provided food assistance for families in need. The new building, scheduled to open October 2022, is being designed based on the latest COVID-19 protocols and security guidelines for schools, including individual entrances to classrooms.
To view a video of the groundbreaking, click here. For more information regarding the capital campaign, click here.