From the MassDevelopment site:
Communities across the Commonwealth both want and need to fully participate in Massachusetts’ innovation economy. The goal of the Collaborative Workspace Program is to accelerate the pace of new business formation, job creation, and entrepreneurial activity in communities by supporting infrastructure that fuels community-based innovation.
Collaborative workspaces are work environments that catalyze serendipity and community, inspiring collaboration, exploration, and experimentation among and between local entrepreneurs, artists, designers, scientists, inventors, and small business owners.
Collaborative workspaces provide users with access to resources, ideas, and networks. These spaces are critical to the growth of the Massachusetts innovation economy, and the proliferation of entrepreneurial activity that they support fosters economic health in communities.
As we said elsewhere, this grant is aimed squarely at what we’re doing at The Brickyard Collaborative. Here’s what we’re putting together.
- The grant deadline is July 20. That’s in 5 days.
- The two main types of grants they offer are the Seed Grant, which is aimed at “pre-development and feasibility work”, and Fit-out grants, which is aimed at build-outs and equipment purchases.
- They have a 1:1 match requirement. That is, you need to match the funds your asking for with “non-state grants, loans, free/discounted rent, donated building improvement materials, equipment, or other quantifiable (and certifiable) contributions to the project.”
- The maximum grant is $250,000 for the Fit-out grant.
Our Strategy
- We’ll be applying for the Fit-out grant.
- We have $20,000 of equipment that’s been donated that qualifies for the matching funds.
- We have been told there’s money available through another source for matching funds. We don’t have the specifics on that.
- We have been awarded $5000 by the HUD CDBG program, and we’re waiting for the award letter. We’re not entirely sure we can use those funds for this purpose, but we’re going to list them, and see if it’s accepted. (Granting is not all-or-nothing, the amount will simply be reduced if that doesn’t qualify.)
- Finally, we have a pretty unique opportunity to raise funds by crowdfunding and donations. Here’s what that looks like:
Only a few days ago, we had a conversation with a private donor who’s supported The Brickyard in the past, and was asking about this grant. He made an offer. He’d match donations up to a $5000 cap.
That means, any donation is matched, then, matched again by MassDevelopment if we’re approved for the grant. With a $5000 cap, that means there’s a potential of $10,000 of funds available. We got the word out, started a Patronicity crowdfunding campaign, and we’re off to the races with a $5000 goal and only 7 days to do it.
All told, here are the totals.
- Equipment: $20,000
- HUD CDBG: $5000
- Patronicity: $10,000
- Mystery Bucket: $???
- Total Matching: $35,000
- Goal/dream Matching: $50,000
Our tentative request, to be adjusted on Friday when we submit the application, will be for $50,000, assuming an available match of $50,000.
Want to help out?
Today July 15, from 2-5pm we’re having a Patronicity Party at Bent Water Brewing, (180 Commercial St #18 ) Come on down! Bent Water has offered some sweet rewards for donors:
Donation levels:
$25 – snack bag and a sticker
$50 – free tour
$100 – free tour with tasting
$500 – private tour and tasting for a group of up to 2 people
$1000 – private tour, tasting for up to 6 people
Besides that, it’s just going to be a good time, what with World Cup action, the Whoo (pie) Wagon, Grill211, a DJ, and, oh, yeah… BEER.
(The SWAG for the donors is only available today, and to donors who come down.)
If you can’t make it, you can still chip in. Go to our Patronicity page and make a donation. It’s not often you can give $100 by spending $25, now, is it? You can find that here: www.patronicity.com/brickyard
Stay tuned! Fingers crossed!
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