The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council is expanding its efforts to increase the number of startup companies in the area. It’s preparing to launch a shared workspace stocked with equipment like welders, lasers, and sewing machines.
The concept aims to provide entrepreneurs a space to create prototypes or perfect their product before taking it to market. EDC CEO Jennifer Daly says, when you put skilled workers together in one space, magic happens.
"Because you have artists who are learning how to weld and creating sculptures, you have entrepreneurs who are learning creative opportunities from the art community, you have all of these collisions in the space of creative people with creative ideas who can help one another to grow,” Daly said.
The initiative, called Catalyst, would operate like a gym membership, Daly said. Members would pay a monthly fee to access the space, machinery and training sessions. District 150 schools are also to be included in the initiative to allow students early exposure to marketable trade skills.
Catalyst is an extension of the EDC's current collaborative workspace “The Nest” that's primarily focused on tech and software startups.
The EDC aims to open Catalyst by the end of 2017. The building under consideration is currently owned by Caterpillar and is located on Washington St. in the Warehouse Ditrict. Daly didn't provide specifics on the building, as it's still under consideration.