Maine Child Care Center Plans 24 Hour Services

A new child care center is now open in South Portland, and organizers say it could help address one of Maine’s biggest challenges for working families.

WGME is reporting that community members gathered Thursday afternoon on Gannett Drive for a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the nonprofit United 4 Childcare. Parents, child care providers, and local leaders attended the event, highlighting the ongoing need for more affordable and accessible child care options in the region.

The new center will have space for about 100 children, offering much-needed relief for families struggling to find available care.

Organizers say this is just the beginning. In the coming years, United 4 Childcare hopes to expand services to include 24-hour care, which would make it the first facility of its kind in Maine. That type of around-the-clock availability could be especially helpful for parents who work overnight shifts, healthcare jobs, or other non-traditional schedules.

United Way of Southern Maine CEO Dan Coyne says the project came together after years of conversations with employers and families about the growing child care shortage.

Leaders say the goal is to create reliable, high-quality child care that supports both working parents and local businesses, while helping strengthen Maine’s workforce.