Downeast Horizons, a nonprofit serving people with developmental disabilities, is beginning a $2.5 million expansion of its current Brewer center that will nearly triple its size and accommodate 20 new employees.
The Dirigo Drive facility will expand from 5,000 square feet to 13,400 square feet, according to a news release Monday.
The new addition will add four program rooms, four offices, four bathrooms, a large meeting room and indoor gymnasium when complete, it’s anticipated, in May 2020. The current facility has four program rooms and nine offices.
Robert Perry Builders of Hermon is managing construction.
Downeast’s current facility is just three years old but is already too small, said the agency’s executive director, Anthony Zambrano.
In 2016, the center was serving 15 adults and 30 children with a staff of about 20. Today, Downeast serves almost 60 adults and 60 children in Brewer, and has 65 employees.
“Based upon current trends, we conservatively anticipate a 15% to 30% growth of both these programs in 2019 and 2020, along with an increase of 20 employees,” he said in the release.
“Because of the unique needs of our program participants, we strongly believe that building an addition is the best option for meeting both our present and anticipated needs.”
Funding for the expansion is coming from the agency’s savings and charitable donations over the past three years, he added.
