Children’s Center breaks ground on $5M expansion in Augusta

Courtesy / Children's Center Gov. Janet Mills spoke at the groundbreaking of the Children's Center expansion, which will allow for additional classrooms and services.

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By Jessica Hall

The Children’s Center, a support services organization in Augusta for children with special needs, has broken ground on a $5 million expansion that eliminate a wait list for about 100 youngsters.

Children’s Center will expand its current Augusta facility by 14,000 square feet, while renovating 5,000 square feet of existing space. The expansion will more than double the space and provide additional classrooms, specialized service areas and administrative space.

The expansion will also create a stimulation-sensitive entrance and lobby, solar installation for improved energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint, and the state’s only Snoezelen Room, which provides a place for individuals with sensory issues to decompress and cope with sensory problems.

The Children’s Center provides services for children from age 6 weeks to 6 years, as well as outpatient occupational therapy, speech therapy, mental health carefor children and families, and case management support for kids up to age 21.

Annually, the center serves more than 250 children between its four sites: Augusta, Farmington, Skowhegan and Waterville. All sites have waiting lists with Augusta’s being the largest at more than 100 children in need of center-based or outpatient services at any given time.

Children’s Center has served the greater Augusta area since 1967 as Mid-State United Cerebral Palsy Inc. After several moves, the doors to the current building opened in 1978. The building, located on the corner of Alden Avenue and Worcester Street in Augusta, was expanded in 2001, increasing its capacity to 60 center-based children.

Among the attendees for the groundbreaking ceremony was Gov. Janet Mills, who praised the center for the work being done, but also praised the kids for being shining stars.

“The work being done at the Children’s Center is not just important, it’s vital to the development of these children and to allowing them every opportunity to be the best person they can be,” said Mills.

“I applaud the generosity of Maine people who made this expansion possible and the hard work of the Children’s Center staff who are making a positive difference every day in the life of these wonderful kids.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by some of the students at Children’s Center, family members, staff and board members of the Children’s Center, and some of the large donors who helped make the expansion a reality.

Greg Powell of the Harold Alfond Foundation, an organization that delivered a $1 million matching grant for the expansion as a tribute to David and Kaye Flanagan, spoke at the event. Also on hand were family members of Charlie and Nancy Shuman, who gave a $1 million gift for the expansion last year. The Shuman family operates Charlie’s Motor Mall and Charlie’s Family of Dealerships in Augusta.