A Portland nonprofit will sell its West End office building
Photo / PETER VAN ALLEN
A nonprofit has put its longtime headquarters building on the market for $2 million.
Learningworks, a Portland education nonprofit, said plans to sell its historic office building on the West End.
The sale is part of its strategic plan to invest in its mission, the nonprofit said in a news release.
The 13,020-square-foot building was listed by Jessica Estes at the Boulos Co., for $2 million. The building sits on 0.16 acres.
Learningworks, which has 60 employees, has been in the property since 1967, provides tutoring, mentoring and alternative education opportunities designed to ensure the success of learners whose needs are not met by traditional systems.
The nonprofit said 181 Brackett St. no longer fits its needs.
“Before the pandemic, we engaged in a strategic planning process that identified the sale of the building as a potential strategy in order to reinvest in our mission,” said executive director Heather Davis.
“The pandemic gave us an opportunity not only to reassess our geographic footprint and square footage needs, but also to identify ways to serve even more Mainers — expanding our services beyond Portland, South Portland and Westbrook to rural areas such as York County. And since many of our employees now work from home, we need a space geared more toward student learning than administrative office space,” she said.
Board Chair Sarah Oliver added: “As we have evolved our strategy, mission and approach to in-office versus remote work, we have an opportunity to not only select a better fitting location but also create additional financial security that will fund our important programs.”
Learningworks was one of six organizations recently awarded a grant by Gov. Janet Mills’ Children’s Cabinet initiative to expand workforce programming for Maine youth. The organization plans to use the funds to expand its YouthBuild program, allowing the program to serve nearly twice as many students.
A plaque on the building says it dates to 1867. Another plaque says Brooks Bakery. A photo on MaineMemory.net, dated from 1924, shows it was home to Geo. C. Birch Automobile Electrician.
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