Hope is becoming reality for Maine families. Sweetser has officially broken ground on Maine’s first Youth Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) in Saco—a transformational investment in the future of children and families across our state. Designed to provide intensive, specialized psychiatric treatment close to home, this facility will ensure that Maine youth with complex behavioral health needs can receive care in their own communities rather than being sent out of state.

This milestone represents far more than the start of construction on a $7.9 million facility. It reflects the collective commitment of public officials, community leaders, businesses, donors, and advocates who believe that Maine’s children deserve access to the treatment and support they need to heal and thrive.

This project would not be possible without the steadfast leadership of Governor Janet Mills, whose inclusion of the facility in her supplemental budget helped turn a long-held vision into reality. We are also deeply grateful to Maine DHHS Commissioner Sara Gagné-Holmes and the Office of Behavioral Health for their partnership and guidance throughout the process.

Special thanks go to Assistant Majority Leader Representative Lori Gramlich, a tireless champion for behavioral health, and to HHS Committee Co-Chairs Senator Henry Ingwersen and Representative Michele Meyer, whose bipartisan leadership helped move this project forward through unanimous committee support and legislative action. We also extend our appreciation to the entire Health and Human Services Committee and the many legislative champions who supported this effort, including Senator Donna Bailey, Senator Tim Nangle, Representative Anne Graham, Representative Flavia DeBrito, and Representative Lynn Copeland.

Alongside the state’s vital $5.4 million investment, Sweetser launched the Build Hope Capital Campaign to raise the remaining $2.5 million needed to complete the project. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, more than $500,000 has already been raised toward that goal.

We are especially grateful to our Naming Rights Sponsor, Maine Community Bank for their extraordinary $100,000 commitment to help make this facility a reality.

We also proudly recognize our dedicated corporate partners whose investments demonstrate a powerful commitment to the well-being of Maine children and families:

• Systems Engineering
• Central Maine Power
• CGI Business Solutions
• Saco and Biddeford Savings
• Paquin & Carroll Insurance
• Unum
• Clark Insurance
• Mascoma Bank
• Strategic Media

Their support reflects an important truth: healthy communities and strong local economies depend on the emotional and psychological well-being of children and families. By investing in this project, these organizations are helping create a stronger regional safety net and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. This facility is more than wood, steel, and concrete. It is a promise that Maine families will have access to compassionate, specialized care when they need it most. It is a place built for healing, resilience, and hope. To every donor, advocate, elected official, and community partner who helped bring us to this historic day: thank you. Together, you are helping ensure that Maine’s children can receive the support they need close to home, surrounded by the people who love them.

The groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction—but more importantly, it marks the beginning of a brighter future for countless Maine families. Hope is here, and healing begins now.

To learn more about Sweetser’s capital campaign project, click here.