UKIAH >> Ukiah ShareSpace, a new co-working space in downtown Ukiah, recently opened its doors to local entrepreneurs and freelancers who need a place to work.
The co-working space is a project of the Economic Development & Financing Corporation of Ukiah and came together after more than three years of planning.
Located in the upper portion of The Center, a non-profit shared facility at Ukiah United Methodist Church at 205 N Bush Street, Ukiah ShareSpace provides a working environment to those who are looking for more options than working from home or at their local cafe or coffee shop.
“We have a lot of people working out in the hills who don’t have access to high-speed Internet, who may need to come into town for a meeting and need a place to work,” said John Kuhry, executive director of the Economic Development Financing Corporation, which is spearheading the project.
Kuhry explained that one of the largest impediments to entrepreneurship in a community is loneliness and how the shared space can address those sorts of issues.
The shared space is not a unique idea as co-working environments have become popular in major cities where office space comes at high cost.
Recent studies have suggested that 33 percent of the workforce is currently independent or freelance in nature, with that number expected to rise in the coming years. Shared offices are meant to lower overhead costs and prevent startups from falling deeply into debt.
With a large talent pool in the Mendocino County area, those who are interested in the Ukiah ShareSpace will not only benefit from the convenient downtown location but will have access to other entrepreneurs in order to collaborate and share resources. The EDFC hopes to establish partnerships with locations in Sonoma County, and efforts to build a shared space on the coast are already in the works.
Depending on commitment level, benefits to those using the ShareSpace are varied; included with all levels of membership are free parking and bike racks, kitchen access with complimentary tea and coffee, high-speed Internet, color printing and scanning services, access to a conference room as well as the ShareSpace coordinator during business hours.
The EDFC is a 501(c)3 non-profit Community Development Financial Institution, that has been in operation since 1995 and helps connect entrepreneurs and business owners to capital. It has helped fund projects such as Mendocino Wool & Fiber and O’Meara Bros. Brewing Company in Lake County.
