Gov. Janet Mills lent a hand Wednesday in a groundbreaking ceremony in Westbrook for an affordable workforce housing project, Clover Terraces, near the city’s downtown.

The project at 21 Clover Lane, off Seavey Street, is a 45-unit condominium building developed to help ease the city and state’s affordable housing shortage.

According to a press release, “Clover Terraces is the first project by Domus, a joint venture between three Portland-based housing developers: Avesta Housing, the largest nonprofit affordable housing developer in northern New England; Jack Soley, a longtime developer of residential and commercial projects in the Portland area; and Hebert Construction, a fourth-generation, family-owned construction firm.”

Soley told a gathering that included Westbrook city officials that the project will have 34 workforce units combined with 11 for market-rate housing. He said the workforce units would be affordable for school teachers, postal employees and police officers.

The project is scheduled to open late next year with one- and two-bedroom condominiums.

“We’ve designed this building to be extremely energy efficient,” Soley said.

“Entry-level housing is an essential component of any healthy, diverse community, but Maine faces a critical shortage that is making it increasingly difficult for first-time homebuyers and current homeowners looking to relocate for career opportunities,” Avesta Housing President and CEO Jennifer Hawkins said in a press release. “This scarcity of accessible housing doesn’t just impact potential homeowners, it also affects employers’ ability to attract and retain quality staff. Domus was created to help address this need.”

Clover Terraces is the latest project at the new residential housing complex in Westbrook. The campus includes Seavey Terraces with 65 apartments, developed by Soley and Hebert Construction, plus Seavey Crossing, an Avesta Housing development under construction with 61 affordable rental homes for ages 55 and older.

“It’s a diverse campus,” Soley said.

Westbrook Mayor David Morse, along with City Administrator Jerre Bryant and Planning Director Jennie Franceschi, attended the ceremony. Morse told the developers that the city has a “fantastic” planning team. “We’re looking forward to your next idea.”

Soley is hoping to encourage other developers to build workforce housing.