Exchanging to Succeed
“The Exchange” will from time to time bring in special speakers or programs pertinent to business growth. On July 17, Chuck Crabtree, Director of Business Incubation and Iowa BioDevelopment for Indian Hills Community College, will be presenting a program on business plan modeling. The program will conclude with a Q&A, and community members interested in The Exchange as well as business plan development are invited. There is no cost to attend. The program will be held in Smokey Row’s meeting room beginning at 7:30 a.m. More information about this program and The Exchange is available on Facebook (The Exchange Oskaloosa Coworking).
Coworking startup taking shape in Oskaloosa
Statistics show entrepreneurs in the United States number between 50 and 84 million. According to ACS, a mandatory, ongoing statistical survey through the US Census Bureau, the number of home-based workers increased from 4.8 million in 2005 to 5.8 million in 2010 and account for 4.3% of all workers in the US. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2020 about 65 million Americans will be freelancers, temps, and independent contractors.
What makes these business trailblazers achieve their business dreams and accomplish their goals?
New statistics indicate an important factor is a sense of community, which seems to contradictory by definition. But such an important need has led to the birth of coworking facilities, a place where individuality prevails but brainstorming takes place, synergy explodes, ideas can be bounced off individuals with the same values and work ethics, and operating expenses can be shared through a membership-type dues structure.
Recent estimates indicate over 1,800 dedicated coworking facilities exist worldwide, and one of the newest ones is in Oskaloosa, Iowa – “The Exchange: Oskaloosa CoWorking.” Currently the group holds a structured meeting from 7:30 to 9, Friday mornings in the meeting room at Smokey Row. As the group grows and the business plan solidified, a more permanent location will be identified. Members of The Exchange use Smokey Row at different times of the day and evening to work on individual projects. Smokey Row patrons will know the “Exchange” members by the LED lamp on the table.
Community members who are interested in learning more or care to join the exchange are free to attend one of the Friday morning meetings at Smokey Row. For more information, contact Beth Danowsky at 515.210.6247.
