Coworking as part of the new infrastructure

People keep asking why we’re pushing for a coworking space is needed in Grand Rapids. Currently there’s plenty of cheap office space and a fair amount of people enjoy working out of their homes and coffee shops. So why spend the effort and time setting up a new space with furniture and an internet connection.

The reason for a space isn’t just a place to work it or be, it’s a place that helps build a community or a movement. Grand Rapids now more than ever has a great level of entrepreneurial energy that’s starting to bubble up to the main stream surface. Granted all of these ventures are not “high tech” “green” or “manufacturing” based ventures, but they are all still vitally crucial to the region.

A coworking space is that first easy step for someone starting a new venture. A place for them to move out of their home office and into professional place to work and collaborate. A place that provides the resources and people that have been through the adventure before. A place where cheap space comes with good insight and guidance on the startup process.

Places like techarb or the Tech Brewery, both in Ann Arbor, are great examples of the type of places that are helping startups get off the ground with resources, insight and a common goal of building new sutstainable businesses. These spaces are helping the community by creating new jobs, retain crucial talent and opening their doors for community focused events like GiveCamp, BarCamp and Startup Weekends.

Coworking is the first step in the support infrastructure for businesses and individuals within the knowledge economy.