🔒Social services nonprofit opens its largest expansion to date in central Maine

Three years after acquiring a 21,700-square-foot building at 40 Granite Hill Road in Manchester, Woodfords Family Services is preparing to open the location to replace its previous central Maine hub at 747 Western Ave. in the same Kennebec County town.

“We are thrilled to see years of planning and hard work come to fruition with the opening of this incredible space,” said Mark Eves, Woodfords’ executive director. “This new facility represents so much more than physical growth. It embodies Woodfords’ commitment to building a more inclusive Maine for the individuals and families we serve, both today and for generations to come.”

For more than a decade, Woodfords operated in approximately 2,000 square feet at 747 Western Ave. The new facility provides more than 10 times that amount of space for enhanced programs, including a life-skills simulation lab, a dedicated occupational and physical therapy gym, large gathering rooms and specialized spaces designed to meet the needs of children, adults, families and staff.

Woodfords, a nonprofit providing educational, clinical, behavioral health, family and community support services to individuals with disabilities and their families, completed renovations and construction of the facility and scheduled a ribbon-cutting for Aug. 6, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Founded in 1967, Woodfords serves more than 2,000 individuals and families with locations in Brewer, Kennebunk, Manchester, New Gloucester, Waterville and Westbrook. In its most recent tax filing, the nonprofit claimed revenue of $43.3 million, according to the 2025 Mainebiz Giving Guide, which cites GuideStar data.

Contractor info

The facility partially opened in late June for Woodfords’ extended school year summer program, which provides continued support during the summer to children who typically receive one-on-one behavioral health professional services in school. Additional programs will gradually transition into the facility over the coming months.

The renovation was performed by Portland construction company Wright-Ryan and designed by Joseph Chalat of Joseph Chalat Architects in Cape Elizabeth and Julie Tupper of Scarborough design firm Re: Fab LLC.

The facility represents the organization’s largest expansion to date. At full capacity, the hub is expected to have more than 100 staff and allow Woodfords to serve hundreds of families throughout central Maine.

Real estate opportunity

Disability services include pre-K and K–5 special purpose private school programs, rehabilitative and community supports, school-based services, extended school year summer services, behavioral health home services, including children’s case management and shared living services for adults.

Woodfords acquired the property from Kennebec Valley YMCA in 2023, at a time when the Y was working on a consolidation plan and Woodfords was developing a long-term plan to expand services in central Maine.

The building, constructed in 1987, came with just over three acres and around 100 parking spots.

The organization had already been providing services in central Maine, but looking to expand, the opportunity to purchase the building accelerated the timeline.

The project represents more than three years of planning, design and construction. The combined purchase and renovation of the facility totals nearly $14 million. Woodfords relied on a $2 million federal allocation secured in FY2024 as well as a $6.5 million bond obtained through the Maine Health & Higher Educational Facilities Authority as the foundation of its funding, in addition to cash assets, corporate donations and private and individual fundraising.