New coworking hub provides office space as needed
The Business Factory Coworking Hub is part of the Tuscarawas Economic Development Corporation’s plan to build a system of support for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Entrepreneurs and small business startups have a new resource in Tuscarawas County. The newly opened Business Factory Coworking Hub allows businesses to rent office space as needed.
It also helps small business owners, entrepreneurs and others to get to know one another. A project of the Tuscarawas Economic Development Corporation, the hub is located in the Tolloty Center on the Kent State Tuscarawas campus.
John Kelly is the director of business development and administration for TEDC. “We are the lead economic development agency for the county, and we do a number of different things for businesses,” he said. “In addition to industrial site development and providing resources for local manufacturers, we’re really trying to build a whole system of supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses.”
The BFCH is just one of the steps toward creating that system. “We basically offer flexible office space,” Kelly said. “Our ideal customers are folks who are trying to run a business out of their home or a coffee shop or remote workers for a company that’s headquartered out of the area. Or if an out-of-town company wants to have a presence here, they can rent a desk, have a space here and meet their customers or have small staff meetings.”
Kelly said TEDC began talking about offering programming and services for entrepreneurs and small business startups a few years ago, but the pandemic hit. “We all know the rest of that story,” he said.
The 1,900-square-foot hub opened about a month ago and houses 20 cubicles featuring adjustable desks and abundant natural light. Cubicles can be rented by the day, month or year.
“If somebody’s got a painting business and they just need a place once every two weeks to do their bookkeeping and pay their bills, they can get a daily pass,” Kelly said. “They can come in, use a cubicle to do the work they need to do occasionally, and they get free Wi-Fi, printing and coffee, as well as some great views of the deer outside.”
Daily passes are $12 for a shared cubicle and desk. Monthly rental includes additional benefits. “For $200 a month, they can have their own reserved space that can be their office or their world headquarters if they want,” Kelly said. “They also have access to two conference rooms and a training room.”
There also is an option for a reserved desk at $250 per month that includes a locking file cabinet and exclusive use of the cubicle. An annual option at $2,000 and saves $1,000 over renting by the month.
The hub is available for use Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All reservations must be made online at www.tuscedc.com. Rental plans and their benefits are accessible on the website by clicking the Business Factory Coworking Hub banner.
A course in
entrepreneurship
Another part of the support offered by TEDC is an eight-week course in entrepreneurship called the Icehouse Course. Based on the book “Who Owns the Icehouse?” the course helps people recognize problems, develop solutions and use available resources.
Those interested in the course should email jkelly@tuscedc.com or call 330-432-3855.