A South Portland-based nonprofit that serves young people with developmental disabilities celebrated the groundbreaking for a new $2 million addition last week that will provide an additional 3,300 square feet of programming space.

STRIVE, located on Foden Road, is hoping the expansion project will allow it to better meet the needs of clients and their families, according to a press release announcing the project.

The expansion is the second phase of STRIVE’s recent capital campaign, which allowed the agency to first purchase the building it’s been leasing on Foden Road. Peter Brown, associate director at STRIVE, said construction would begin in early May and take about 16 weeks.

The project includes modernizing the building and making “many important updates,” Brown said, including adding classroom and program space “for our ever-growing programs.”

He added, “This (new) space will allow for each program to have its own room, rather than share one space. It will also include much-needed health and safety improvements, such as an internal wheelchair ramp, full sprinkler system and air conditioning, to name a few.”

The focus at STRIVE is to help clients improve fundamental academic skills, develop leadership potential, improve their economic opportunities, foster career opportunities through education and training and promote peer support for parents and siblings, according to the agency’s website.

Brown said STRIVE raised $1.1 million to help pay for the project and also received a $325,000 matching grant from the Lunder Foundation. In addition to the actual capital costs, he said STRIVE is also hoping to raise an additional $450,000 for an endowment to pay for ongoing upkeep and maintenance.

The current building is about 8,500 square feet in size and serves more than 900 clients, according to Brown, who said, “We average three to five new participants per week.”

Clients at STRIVE in South Portland take part in a groundbreaking ceremony for an addition that will provide new program space. From left are Allanah Barraso, Mary Roberge, Charlie Saffian, Blake Waterhouse, JJ Sarapas, Nate Dibiase and Haley Pass. Courtesy photo