Innovation and Redevelopment in New Bedford, MA

Groundwork!Work together. Grow together.

1213 Purchase St. 2nd Floor New Bedford, MA | newbedfordcoworking.com | [email protected]

OUR MISSION is to support an innovation ecosystem in New Bedford, by creating a physical hub where entrepreneurs can gather, work,

and gain access to education and resources.



What?Groundwork! is New Bedford's first coworking space.

A coworking space is an affordable and inspiring shared office environment for creatives, startups, and freelancers. Members enjoy ample lighting and comfortable work stations with fast internet, printing and mailing services, and free coffee and snacks.

We also program educational and social events to promote collaboration and partnerships among members, supporting and nurturing a healthy economy of small businesses and independent contractors in New Bedford.

We believe that if we work together, we will grow together.



Where?We're located in the Quest Center in downtown New Bedford. The Quest Center building is also home to the New Bedford Economic Development Council, the Massachusetts Small Business Development Council, and Interise, so Groundwork! members have close proximity to resources for entrepreneurs.

New Bedford's downtown is re-emerging as a vibrant urban area, with new restaurants, cafes, a busy seaport, and established arts scene. Having lost many of it's manufacturing jobs, New Bedford has been slow to adpot to new economic growth and is in need of a redevelopment strategy. The mission of Groundwork! is to support New Bedford's resurgance by providing a physical hub where entrepreneurs can meet, work, and gain access to education and resources.

“My job sometimes brings me to more trendy places like New York City and Silicon Valley. They are great places, but I find them a bit phony at times. New Bedford has a realness to it. We all know that it’s not perfect, but it’s a one-of-a-kind place filled with many creative and hard-working people.” -Doug Lane, AppSense, Groundwork! Member



Why?Coworking spaces serve as a physical hub for the startup community as well as a focal point for mentors, investors, and others who want to be involved. Coworking spaces also create an environment of repeated, face-to-face interaction that fosters both collaboration and competition, two important factors in a successful startup ecosystem.

Additionally, coworking spaces offer educational workshops and lectures, an essential component in building a lively community of entrepreneurs.



UpGlobal, a non-profit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, recently published a white paper outlining the key components of an innovation ecosystem. The paper cited a coworking space, or physical hub, as crucial for creating the density and culture needed to support and attract innovators to a given city.

A 2012 survey published by Deskmag found the following:

✔ 71% report a boost in creativity since joining a coworking space✔ 62% said their standard of work had improved in a coworking space✔ Almost 90% of coworkers report an increase in self-confidence✔ 70% of coworkers feel healthier than they did working in a traditional office

40% of the workforce is expected to be freelancers, temps, independent contractors, and solopreneurs by 2020.

Why?

http://www.up.co/

http://www.deskmag.com/en/1st-results-of-the-3rd-global-coworking-survey-2012



Who?Founders

Groundwork! is the creation of two close friends, Sarah Athanas and Dena Haden. We grew up on Cape Cod, painting murals together in high school art class and dreaming about the day when we would be free to build our adult lives around our passions. When Sarah recently returned to Massachusetts after several years of living abroad, our discussions quickly turned to the fact that as adults, we feel we are lacking a community that supports the creative lifestyle we envision. We believe that if we join forces with other freelancers, artists, and entrepreneurs, we can tap into unlimited talent, energy, and power to create a truly sustainable local economy.

Partners

We're supported by the New Bedford Economic Council, the City of New Bedford, and the MassDevelopment Collaborative Workspace Program.

Groundwork! is a member of the Workbar network, giving our members access to Workbar office space, events, and professional networking in Boston, Cambridge, and beyond.

We are also partnering with local organizations and businesses who are invested in the future of New Bedford, including: Interise, EforAll, New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Workforce Investment Board.

“The Groundwork and Workbar partnership in New Bedford demonstrates our commitment to innovation as a driver forfuture economic growth.” - Jon Mitchell, Mayor of New Bedford

http://workbar.com/



Who?Members

Our diverse membership includes local businesses, entrepreneurs, and remote workers. Some of the industries represented at Groundwork! Include IoT (Internet of Things), web design and development, marketing and advertising, the non-profit sector, technology, and film and video production.

MediaRead our coverage in South Coast Today:

Co-working space to open this fall in New Bedford

Renovations set to start as Quest Center co-working site moves forward

We all work with and for people. What else is there? Being at Groundwork! has been a valuable source of energy. Every day.” -Chris Rezendes, INEX Advisors, Groundwork! Member“

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140908/NEWS/409080304/-1/rss01

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20150421/NEWS/150429841



How?

Build community. Educate and spread the vision.

Program meaningful events.

Create an inspiringphysical hub &workplace.

The currency of tomorrow's businesses in our region is engaged community partners who exercise and demonstrate effective communication, collaboration and commitment to common goals. Goundwork! is helping to make this happen.”-Anthony Baird, Director of Corporate Programs Development, Umass Dartmouth

“



When?The Groundwork! BETA Space opened on December 1, 2015 and is currently home to 11 members.

The Groundwork! main space is targeted to open July 1, 2015, with a capacity of 72 members. We are targeting 60% capacity by November 2015.

For more information:Contact Sarah Athanas:[email protected]

Visit our website:Http://newbedfordcoworking.com

Watch a video:https://vimeo.com/102484501

mailto:[email protected]

http://newbedfordcoworking.com/

https://vimeo.com/102484501

Innovation and Redevelopment in New Bedford, MA

Small Business & Entrepreneurship

Transcript of Innovation and Redevelopment in New Bedford, MA