Category: Uncategorized

BrickStarter?  What?

We need to show support for The Brickyard Collaborative, and we thought about all the various crowdfunding sites out there.  They’re great for getting support from all over the globe for projects that couldn’t really be funded any other way.  They also take a fee, and have rules – mostly to serve their own platforms.

This is about Lynn, and we need to show there’s support right here in Lynn and the rest of the North Shore.  So we’re keeping it here, using PayPal.

…and who can resist a pun like “BrickStarter”?

So here’s the deal.  Like Kickstarter, you get rewards for backing us, in the form of memberships.  What exactly are you getting a membership in?  Good question.

Already we’re collecting equipment and supplies.  We’re in negotiations for some spaces, and we’re poised to start moving in.  Right now we have a complete photo lab, wood shop, partially-equipped auto/bike shop, and soap, paper and recycled plastics equipment looking for a home.  We’re aiming at Sept. 1 to actually move in.

Take a look at our list of facilities we’re working on, here.  So, once we open, you get access to all that – from a metal and wood shop to 3D printing, rapid prototyping, upcycling and a whole lot more.  It’s a work in progress, so you can activate your Charter Membership when you’re, and we’re, ready.

To reward your patience, we’re giving you Charter Memberships at 1/2 the full price.  Ready to take a look at the details?  Here’s the BrickStarter page.

Why are we doing this?

…a couple of reasons.  First, we have some bills to pay – work that’s been done with the promise that we’ll pay for it when we start to get funded.  These are Lynn professionals, doing professional quality work on blind faith that we’ll keep our promise.  We love donations, but we believe people should be paid for the work they do.

Second, and most important. We have several grants we’re applying for that will get us off the ground in months, rather than years.  They all want to see that you have a committed base of support, and they like to see revenue coming in, demonstrating a viable concept.  You can help us pay our bills, but your support will leverage us into a better position to get some serious State and Federal funding.

How much do we need, and how much are we asking from you?  Really, whatever you can give.  We’re hoping to raise $5000 to cover our expenses, but even if you can only do $10 or less, still, that’s one more person we can point to, showing real support.

Take a look at the Charter Membership levels, here.  See what you think.  If you just want toss some into the general donation, the button for that is at the bottom.  You’ll get a confirmation, and we’ll be in constant contact to keep you up to date on the developments.

Thanks for all the support, and check back!  We’ll be updating our progress daily!

So you know when you hit a speed bump, and then you’re on the other side, how you step on the gas to make up for lost time?  Yeah, that’s kind of how this week was.  Full speed ahead, after a few speed bumps!

We’ve done a little housekeeping on the site, and added a main Workshops and Classes page.  You can click here to see that.  We’re also really excited to announce two additional classes: Learn to Knit and Traditional Darkroom.

For those who are interested in classes, as well as those who’ve signed up already, stay tuned.  We may have some kind-of exciting news, which meant we had to hold off a bit before announcing dates and times.  A little tease?  Yeah, you bet, but you just wait.  This could be amazing.

Keep building, keep making!  Play nice and clean up after yourselves.

We’ve got a big week coming up, starting today!

This afternoon we are having our first official Board meeting.  We are registered with Massachusetts and have our EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS.  The one thing we’re waiting on is our letter of “Special Status” from the IRS granting us our Non-Profit status, which should be coming in a few weeks.  The first order of business for the Board is to discuss and consider our provisional Bylaws, and formalize out roles and duties.  Oh, and a toast to our incredible venture!  (Is a toast covered under Robert’s Rules of Order?)

Through the generous donation of an esteemed member, we’ve been invited to not only join the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce, but to serve on the Chamber’s Workforce and Economic Development Committee.  We’ll get a chance to talk to the committee’s members about what’s happening, the opportunities we see on the horizon, and how we can work together to make it happen.  That meeting will be on Tuesday morning.  Very exciting, and quite an honor!

Finally, on Tuesday, the big day.  We have the public hearing for our application for the HUD “Block Grants”, under the CDBG Grant program.  Read more about that here.   We should be getting a fairly good read on our chances, though it’s the first time we’ve been to a hearing like this, and don’t really know what to expect.  That’s a public hearing, at 6:00PM at the LHAND offices at 10 Church Street.

Look for an update and report towards the end of the week!

 

Keep making stuff. Take care of people, play nice and clean up after yourselves.

One of the most exciting events so far has been the Stakeholders Meeting in January at the Lynn Museum.  There we had a room full of the leaders in the community – from University Presidents to City Councillors to successful and influential entrepreneurs and businesses from the entire North Shore community.

We met, talked, traded ideas and forged alliances to build this project to reflect the needs and wants of everyone in the Lynn area and beyond.  Mayor Tom McGee spoke, and Amanda Hill (Beyond Walls), Michael Satterwhite (Lynn School Committee) and Rick Starbard (Lynn City Council) all shared their perspectives and excitement for the project, and for Lynn’s future.

Enjoy the video!