SPACES FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Studies show that co-working spaces foster creative and productive environments. Spaces generally offer the physical necessities to run a business such as high-speed Internet, conference room, printing, faxing, and copy services, as well as a kitchenette or break room. Equally important are the other less tangible benefits. Co-working spaces provide excellent environments for networking and collaboration. Some spaces even provide specialized tools and equipment. The Alleghenies is home to spaces that have been designed specifically for entrepreneurs. Work with your Coach to find out which ones are right for you.

814 WORX: Johnstown

As Johnstown’s first co-working space, 814 Worx offers an environment of collaboration, socializing, and productivity that your home or garage won’t offer. Amenities include high speed internet, high tech telecommunications system, conference room available for rent, gourmet coffee, comfortable work spaces, 24-hour access and events within the space for a chance to network and socialize. Membership is flexible and includes the options of a daily walk-in rate, monthly individual flex membership, multiple month package and business packages.

The Altoona Launchbox Supported by The Hite Family

The Altoona LaunchBox is a no-cost startup accelerator and co-working space designed to provide early-stage startups with the support and resources they need to build a sustainable and scalable business and a viable plan for growth. We provide the general public, students, faculty, successful area entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders with off-campus, co-working space, integrated with an entrepreneurial training program, to accelerate the transformation of innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.
This 4,400 sq. ft. dedicated space is located in the heart of downtown Altoona. No Rent, No Fees. Whether you are working solo or building a team, there are multiple ways to take advantage of the space. We’re best for entrepreneurs looking for a flexible, conveniently located, space to hold meetings or somewhere to get work done.

Bottle Works: Johnstown

The BOTTLE WORKS is a dynamic arts organization operating two cultural centers on Third Avenue in the historic cultural district of Cambria City. With two amazing community facilities, BOTTLE WORKS is proud to be Johnstown’s art mecca where artists can exhibit, create, teach and sell; musicians can perform; and visitors can explore, learn and enjoy.
This nonprofit organization’s mission is to provide affordable working studio space for artists to create, exhibit, teach and sell art and to provide a place for the community to gather, learn, and participate in the experience of art. The primary use of studio space is for creating art; however, studios should also be used for displaying and selling. BOTTLE WORKS hopes to create a partnership with studio artists and provide a space where artists’ creativity and businesses will thrive.

Center for Metal Arts: Johnstown

The Center for Metal Arts is a community of metalsmiths, artists, and students exploring new skills or mastering advanced techniques in the metal arts. They offer beginner through advanced forging and metalsmithing workshops. With a state of the art facility, CMA specializes in technique-based workshops and providing the metals community with quality forging tools made with pride by their inhouse blacksmiths.
Open studio time is a great opportunity for intermediate to advanced level students. This self -guided structure is designed for students to practice techniques and create new projects. For those who do not have a home studio, this option gives you access to a fully equipped, state of the art facility.

Creator Square: Johnstown

Creator Square is located in the Parkview Building in downtown Johnstown. Creator Square is a community-based artisan residency that endeavors to nurture an environment where artisan makers can focus on and grow their creative practices through the combination of traditional craft and small batch manufacturing within a micro-community of like-minded creatives. The residency’s constitution and duration are deliberately flexible in order to accommodate the individual needs of the selected participants. The goal is to provide reasonably priced and well-equipped studios in which a wide variety of makers – emerging and mid-career making everything from household objects to musical compositions – are embraced and promoted.

Field to Fork Agricultural Incubator: Johnstown

This fully licensed, shared-use commercial kitchen incubator is for local farmers and food entrepreneurs who need a space to create their value-added products. One of the biggest challenges food entrepreneurs face when starting up their businesses is finding a commercial kitchen for manufacturing, as required by the FDA. This kitchen complies with state and federal requirements, clearing that hurdle for small scale producers. The facility is housed in the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center. Culinary students will be available to assist in all aspects of food production, giving students invaluable real-world food experience – and much-needed help to makers. This incubator will focus initially on three categories: Jarred foods –jams, jellies, syrups, salsas, and other packaged food products falling within certain pH guidelines, Dried foods – fruits, vegetables, and USDA processed meats and Baked goods – breads, cookies, bagels, and other ready-to-eat baked goods. The kitchen is available to rent by the hour on a first-come first-served basis. Tenants need to comply with state regulations and some training requirements.

First Frontier Kitchen: Altoona

First Frontier Kitchen is a shared use community kitchen located at the former Wright school, a community project from The Nehemiah Project. The kitchen’s mission is empower people to live connected lives by helping them discover their purpose and talents through social experiences & meaningful employment in the local hospitality or agriculture industry, in the first frontier region. They accomplish this through a workforce development apprentice program for people with barriers to employment, and culinary launch & boot camps for food entrepreneurs looking to start a food related venture.
A theatre kitchen teaches healthier food choices and provides better access to a population in a food desert. A Hydro/Aquaponics growing areas, mushroom growing cave, blast chiller, canning line, organic area, and value added areas for dairy farmers.

Hess Business Center: Bedford

The Hess Business Center (HBC), located in the Bedford County Business Park, offers a range of space available to entrepreneurs. This includes single offices up to 6,000 sq. ft. and access to a stateof-the-art conference room (which includes videoconferencing capabilities.) The HBC is certified as a Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ). KIZ benefits enable companies less than 8 years old to be eligible for tax credits up to $100,000 annually. Short and long-term leasing is available. The facility can be viewed on www.bcda.org. HBC has a track record of housing start-ups and seeing them ultimately “hatch” into larger space.

JARI Center for Business Development: Johnstown

The facility, with a loading dock in the rear, opened in 1996 with 30,000± square feet of space and is 95 percent occupied with two small vacant spaces. Most tenants pay less than $7 per square foot.
Services included within this fee are high-speed Internet and access to office equipment (such as a photocopier). Utilities are included in rent. The conference room is rented to a variety of users. The incubator has no formal exit policy and tenants are not evicted after a predetermined period. The facility does not employ any support staff, though it does have shared common space including a kitchen, conference rooms, restrooms and copier.

The Russell House Business and Education Center: Bedford

The Russell House Business & Education Center offers co-working space for entrepreneurs through PeopleMation’s Ninja Business Co-Op. Entrepreneurs can design the workspace that suits their needs: full-time work stations, shared desks and drop-in levels are available, as well as meeting space for two to twenty and coaching by PeopleMation’s Tim Rooney. Educational programs through PeopleMation, Allegany College of Maryland and other Chamber of Commerce partners provide additional value, along with the opportunity to join a collaborative entrepreneurial community.

The Bob & Eileen Sill Business Education Center: Huntingdon

The Bob & Eileen Sill Business Incubator supports entrepreneurs in Huntingdon County. The 10,000 square foot facility is designed to foster innovation, collaboration and business creation. The incubator is housed at Juniata College’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership building located at 419 14th Street in Huntingdon. The Sill Business Incubator was established to help entrepreneurs grow their start-up businesses into a highly successful operation. Rates include start-up resources, a personal mailbox, on-site parking, heating, air conditioning, electricity and trash removal. Three conference rooms are available providing professional meeting space.

Uptown Works: Somerset

Flexible office space and meeting rooms in Somerset, PA. It’s more than office space, Uptown Works houses a variety of networked spaces to meet the many needs of today’s professionals. The space offers a number of benefits including; Flexible terms and rates; Vibrant, professional, and furnished worksite; 24/7 access; Meeting and conference rooms, High-speed wired and wireless internet, Print/fax/scan and basic office supplies, Hot and cold drinks & kitchenette, Networking and educational events, a mailing address & phone, Member directory/marketing program, On-site childcare at Kids Club, Meeting coordination and facilitation, and a Mother’s room.
Members can choose from a variety of networked spaces including: Collaboration and lounge areas, Open desks (a desk anyone can use), Reserved desks (a desk just for you), Private offices* (an office with a door), Meeting rooms , Quiet room (for coding and editing) , Call booth (for taking calls and VC’s), Soundproof booth (for voiceover and broadcasting), Craft /maker studio with storage, Counseling room (discrete meeting space), Outdoor covered patio with WIFI.