The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, a Portland-based migrant nonprofit that provides English language classes and other services to immigrants, announced on Friday that they will be closing their physical location this summer, citing a funding shortfall exacerbated by a loss of federal funding.
In a Friday press release, the nonprofit’s board of directors announced that the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center’s brick and mortar location at 25 Preble St. in Portland will be closed for walk-in services after June 30, 2025.
The board of directors said the decision to close the center comes due to a “sustained funding shortfall, heavily impacted by the loss of federal funding for our programs.”
The nonprofit plans to continue some of its English language class through July in order to allow for their current pool of students to finish their courses. The board also said they are exploring options to continue off-site services through the calendar year.
“For more than seven years, the Immigrant Welcome Center has lived up to its name, providing a place where New Mainers could find not only essential services but also a sense of belonging and welcome,” the board said Friday.
“Its closure marks a significant loss for many of the individuals and families who have relied on its programs and open doors,” they stated. “While the physical space is closing, the need for this work remains urgent. We promise to continue to coordinate with community partners to explore new homes for key programs in the months ahead.”
Federal tax filings show that the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center brought in about $1.2 million in revenue in fiscal year 2023 — about double what the nonprofit raised in 2022.
About 93 percent –$1.1 million — of the nonprofit’s revenue in 2023 came from contributions, including $282,000 in government grants, while just $27,650 in their revenue came from their services.
