The search continues but we think we have a winner at 2716 Woodburn just down the street from our previous selection. While this space is noticeably smaller than the other it offers the benefit of starting small with the opportunity of expanding into the adjacent space (2718 Woodburn) which is about twice the size. Without further ado, here’s the video featuring yours truly…

Interested in coworking? Almost ready to become a CincyCoworks charter member? Want to meet other creative, driven, and passionate self-starters like yourself?

Then join us for an informational meeting about the launch of our new coworking venue. We’ll present the latest news about our site selection and will field questions about where we stand.

When: 6-8PM, Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Where: The Brew House, 1047 East McMillan Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206 (MAP)
RSVP at EventBrite: not required, but gives us a good sense of crowd size.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Food and beverages will NOT be provided but The Brew House has a decent menu and selection of beer and alcohol. We encourage you to support this neighborhood establishment.

We’re excited about the future of coworking in Cincinnati and invite you to learn more on March 31st. For more info email Bill Barnett.

Some of you have heard this already, but the space we had our eye on on Woodburn Ave. has been leased to someone else.  I should say that this was entirely above the board and understandable.  We had not signed on anything yet, and the landlord was very upfront with his desire to put a retail business in that retail space.

In any case, what this means is that we’ll continue to hunt for space, and keep everyone abreast as much as possible. 

What does this mean for the Charter Membership offer?  Good question.  While the space we ultimately select will change the financials, it shouldn’t change much.  We will leave the membership offer up.  If you decide to join this exclusive charter group know that we will make it right in the end.  For example, if costs becomes lower, you will receive the difference back.  If costs become higher, you will have the choice of helping us by making up the difference, or changing your mind and receiving a full refund.  You get the idea.

So please continue to bear with us!  And drop by our current setup at Willow Creative when you need to get out of the house!

Cincinnati Coworks is in need of charter members!  This is the real deal folks, and we are serious.  We intend to open in the Woodburn Ave. space.

We started with a single, one-time day of coworking and had 17 people show up.  We started coworking once/week, and had many visitors and 3-4 regulars.  Then, we moved into the cozier 3rd floor, which allowed us to cowork 5 days/week!  And a couple of those regulars made that their everyday home for working.  It’s now time to get a permanent home.  It’s now time to get a space where we can interrupt each other with ideas, make lunch plans, have meetings, make phone calls, and have parties.

We’ve (hopefully) been transparent and level throughout, and this is no different.  On the Join page is our Letter of Intent.  It is not a contract.  If you sign one and recant later, no one is going to hunt you down (though you may get a dirty look or two).  The Letter of Intent’s purpose is to let everyone align on expectations.

How did we come up with the membership fees and this charter offer?  We sat down and created a list of everything we felt we needed upon opening (e.g. 1st month’s rent, deposit, desks and chairs) and a list of expenses we felt we’d incur month-to-month.  Then, we based the charter proposal and monthly membership price on that.  Since this is a 100% bootstrapped effort, if there is interest in paying above and beyond the minimum that we’re asking for – for example, a one-time donation, or several months of pre-payment – we’ll figure out what the return for that gesture would be.

And don’t worry, the drop-in rate will still be $10, same as it has always been.

Why might you sign up?  If you are tired of working out of your home and want to collaborate with others, yes. But also, you need to sign up if you believe in our vision.

Send in your letter now!  We intend to hold an evening information session soon to meet some new people in person, and to answer questions. Nothing fancy – we’ll just pick a time and place. If you any concerns whatsoever, feel free to contact me directly or use the channel of your choice.

“Ever wonder if your idea could have a major impact on our city?” asks the folks at Ignite Cincinnati (not to be confused with Ignite Cincinnati).  We believe Cincy Coworks could.  So we filled out their appreciatively brief grant application form.  There are some logistical and demographic questions, but here is the money question and our answer.

Question:

Ignite projects should be created by you! Step outside of the box and think of something unique that 18-40 year-olds would find both interesting and cool. Tell us why we should vote YES for your project and let us know how it will be a reflection on young people and the neighborhoods in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

Answer:

Coworking generally brings to mind young creatives tapping away at laptops in a cool office space. We want to create this and more. These solo-preneurs are hard at work building the next big agency, or building the next big startup, or simply enjoying the benefits of being your own boss. These people are already in Cincinnati. We just need to bring them together.

We envision Cincinnati Coworks as a platform for events with a civic-minded focus on making Cincinnati a better city. We want to do so by hosting user groups, SIG’s, GiveCamps, Barcamps, mini-conferences, community classes, Pecha Kucha nights, Ignite events (the other Ignite Cincinnati), you-name-it.  We’ll provide the space at little or no cost and a built-in network of potential participants. At Cincinnati Coworks, our mission as a professional community hub is to transform how people in Cincinnati with ideas get together and make the region a better place to live. Also, with the coworking visa program, coworking members in other cities know they have a place to work when they visit Cincinnati.

Our operations are supported by our coworking members. These members are freelancers, consultants, and independent contractors who are by definition cut of a different cloth. We provide them a place to work and collide with like-minded people. The whole business is structured so that these members build a community and friendships.  Did you ever become really good friends with someone you worked with?  Imagine the same thing, only now you’re your own boss, and you get to work with friends without the office politics, without the org chart, without superiors, without having to deal with others who really don’t want to be there.

Coworking is not unique throughout the country, but it is unique in this city.  I know of no coworking spaces open currently. In fact, with as many independent consultants and creatives buzzing around Cincinnati, I find it surprising and a bit of a shame that there has been no coworking space opened to date. We want to fix this problem. That is why you should vote YES for Cincinnati Coworks.

Last week, we took a tour of 2807 Woodburn Ave. in Walnuts HIlls as a potential coworking space.  More updates later.