I agree with BrianR about getting to know the community leaders and elected officials. Here¹s another idea for some folks. At least in Washington State and I assume it¹s the same elsewhere there¹s a fair amount of state and local grant money for small business incubators. It¹s not how we¹re positioned as a space as we don¹t offer any sort of business training and don¹t really want to track ³outcomes.² . However, an office building in our area has carved out a small space in its cubicle land as an incubator area for small businesses. This has opened it up to tens of thousands of dollars in grant funding. Just last year it split $250k with a couple other offices.
Check with your local CED for details. It may fit into your potential business model. - Derek Young - Suite133 On 5/16/08 8:26 AM, "Jerome Chang" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Good luck on securing funds from the SBA. I spent 4-5 months to conclude that > I basically didn't qualify. Two words: passive income. > > The SBA wants "active" businesses as in people help or service customers > directly. At its core level, coworking is rental property that just collects, > well, rent. Creating a community, as noble as that sounds, facilitating > networking/relationships, etc. does not count if they are not specific > tasks/products/services for which a customers pays. The closest model is a > fitness/gym club. Customers pay a membership fee to get trained. And while > gym members mostly pay for a right to use any set of equipment, coworkers pay > for a right to use a specific desk/office. > > But, the other ideas about gov't funding otherwise sound really resourceful. > I wish I had tried those options. > > > Jerome > > ______________ > BLANKSPACES > "work wide open" > > 5405 Wilshire Blvd (2 blocks west of La Brea) > Los Angeles, CA 90036 > 323.330.9505 > > > On May 16, 2008, at 5:58 AM, BrianR wrote: > >> >> I'm in the final stages of receiving funds from my Town. Its not a >> gift but a loan I have to pay back. (Fingers crossed) >> >> First look for your local Small Business Association. In the US you >> can find them here http://www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html. I'm >> working with a local group and they have been INVALUABLE during my >> year and half journey to find funds. They know the options out there. >> >> I think the key is reading local and state economic development plans. >> Find lines that mention things like retaining businesses and jobs, >> increasing available office space, localism, creative class, green >> business, etc. All of these elements are part of Coworking. >> >> Then have coffee with your local Economic Development Director and >> elected officials. If you have a community CoOp in your town talk to >> their Directors &/or Board Members. They have experience with member >> organizations and ways to fund them. Plus ask your nonprofit Executive >> Directors about creative funding. Any successful nonprofit will have >> lots of experience in this area too. Go talk to local banks. I was >> very skeptical about what they could do to help. But at the very least >> you obtain perspective about the funding options. Many local bankers >> are your neighbors and will care about what you're doing. They can >> have great advice too. >> >> See what these folks are trying to do in your community. I bet you can >> find allies. >> >> -BrianR >> Carrboro Creative Coworking >> carrborocoworking.com >> >> On May 15, 2:56 pm, Jay <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> One of my first thoughts was that our local city government would have >>> an interest in a coworking facility here in Louisville, KY since it's >>> all about revitalization and economic development locally. >>> >>> I didn't know if would be possible to get grants or other assistance >>> for this type of start-up. >>> >>> I was wondering if anyone else had gone down this route and what kind >>> of response did you get? >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
