By Pat Shaver
IOWA CITY — The entrepreneurial, freelancing and creative community has another spot to work.
For several years, the city of Iowa City has been working with the local business community to develop space to be used by freelancers and independent contractors to help grow their businesses and eventually, increase the city’s tax base. About two years ago, the city tasked the Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD), with spearheading the project.
The Iowa City CoLab opened its doors this month.
“This was our dream. I’m excited. Once we get all the furniture, then it will be real,” said Mark Nolte, ICAD’s interim president. “What we’re really trying to do is build community.”
About 20 percent of the workforce is considered independent contractors, like freelancers and people who work remotely.
“We know these (coworking spaces) aren’t big money makers, but it’s an investment benefit to the community,” he said. “We hope to use this as a recruiting tool. Studies show that you’re more productive around other people. It’s a deeper level of networking.”
The daily drop-in rate is $15, or $100 for a 10-day monthly punch card. A one-day-a-week membership is $40 a month; two days a week is $60 per month. For a membership for three-days a week, it’s $100 a month.
A full membership costs $200 a month and includes 24/7 access. ICAD also offers a full-time membership with dedicated space and storage for $250.
Resources for members include commercial-grade Wi-Fi, printing and photocopying, as well as public and private spaces, conference rooms and coffee.
The CoLab will also offer organized activities for members including networking events, how-to sessions and business coaching. Some of the events will also be available to non-members, Mr. Nolte said.
In its research, ICAD visited coworking spaces across the country and discovered that ICAD group is among the first, if not the first, economic development organization to start a coworking space, he said.
“The good ones become hubs that people are drawn to everyday,” Mr. Nolte said.
The space the CoLab landed was the former Budcat Creations office, 316 E. Court St., in downtown Iowa City, which required minimal renovation work, Mr. Nolte noted.
Budcat Creations was a software company in acquired by Activision in 2008 and was best known for creating video games for Guitar Hero. Activision abruptly closed Budcat’s doors in November 2010.
“Ultimately, we’d like to build a network of these (coworking spaces),” Mr. Nolte said. “The goal is to get a few of these going.”
Along with desk space for 22 computers, CoLab is already home to a handful of small businesses: Radiology Protocols, Seed Here, Hobu, McGinnis Law Firm and an undetermined University of Iowa student business group. ICAD has contracted with Seed Here to help manage the space.
ICAD anticipates about 40 people using the CoLab at any given time.
By Dec. 31, ICAD was completely moved out of its previous office at 325 E. Washington St., Ste. 101. It now operates out of the CoLab.
Coworking is a shared working environment that encourages collaboration but also allows for independent activity.
People coworking are usually not employed by the same company. It’s a way for a group of people who might usually work alone to gather socially, collaborate and share values.
Other coworking spaces in the Corridor include: Busy Coworking, 218 E. Washington St., Iowa City and the Vault Coworking and Collaboration Space, 222 Third St. SE, Ste. 509, Cedar Rapids.
