Coworking in Vermont

What’s the Big Idea?

Coworking is an answer to the question,How can we help entrepreneurs and creativesconnect, grow their ventures, and fosterstartup communities?

Open CollaborativeIndependent

Coworkers are

78 percent under 40

percent bike or walk30

percent in web design, development44

self-employed4:5

percent report increased income36

* http://www.deskmag.com/en/coworker-profile-usa-coworking-175

Begun in 1997

Coworking

8 startup rank in the country

percent working in creative cluster4.5

percent of workforce self-employed26

average percentage less a Vermont designer earns18

percent annual growth of creative cluster 5

Is Vermont ripe?

Creative cluster

39 median age of members

average weekly presence, in hours20

percent working in creative cluster53

self-employed4:5

average monthly spending downtown$135

* Local 64 member survey, September 2012

Begun in June 2012

37 number of monthly members

Local 64

Benefits for coworkers• Establish presence, increase productivity• Break isolation, foster networks• Increase density, generate ideas and value

Benefits for towns• Foster creative density, clusters• Renovate, activate empty space• Generate downtown activity

”Coworking has revitalized my one-woman business. Ifeel more productive and far less isolated. It's given mea work community--something that, as a freelancer, isnot naturally built in to my life.

* Local 64 member survey, November 2012

“

Work

Social networking

Professional development

Educational workshops

Community programming

Moving forward• Write coworking insight and technical

assistance roadmap with VCET• Expand value, partnerships with spaces like

Office Squared (O2) Burlington• Explore second location in Barre• Foster joint projects to build momentum, like

Barre Business Plan Competition

Legislative leadership opportunities• Spokesperson for the model• Seek out, participate in networks• Connect the dots in communities• Listen for policy recommendations

Thank you

Lars Hasselblad Torres802-595-0605lhtorres@gmail.com

MONTPELIER PROPERTYMANAGEMENT