Workspace Rockland Interest Group

06/04/2023

In an era where web reviews seem to be everything, this just cracked me up. :-D

10/23/2022

A pretty and functional garden element.

10/05/2022

09/30/2020

Guess what everyone? We're getting the band back together.

I have super news. The Camden Workspace project is moving forward! I found just a space to make it work in Rockland in a really cool, historic building.

The new space at 25 Rankin Street is almost too good to be true. The acquisition price was $165,000 for 10,000 square feet, all on one floor. The building has a full, dry sprinkler system, and three phase power with an air compressor, concrete floors and large garage doors. All of which mean we will be able to launch it in the hoped for $29-$39 dollar a month entry level membership.

For those of you who saw the announcement for the Maine Museum of Industry, don't panic! the makerspace is going to be an interim use at 25 Rankin, one of three commercial tenants to occupy the building as we renovate and then construct the exhibits. The commercial tenants at 25 Rankin will be the MaineMuseum Welcome center, the Makerspace, and a retail tenant in the eastern corner of the building, TBD. My goal is to have all three open by January 1, 2021.

As the museum is built out over time, the coworking area (which is a bit oversized) will shrink. But we need almost two years to go through the historic preservation process, which will give us time to grow membership. And my goal would be to get the makerspace to sustaining occupancy and go on the hunt for another location for the Makerspace, preferably one with a bit more parking.

The project will be an L3C as originally envisioned- a limited profit, limited liability corporation that is mission driven to promote entrepreneurship, lateral learning, and networking.

And even better - all of the equipment from the Mid Coast Pop Up Factory will be heading over - tables and chairs, a 3d laser cutter, hand tools, raw materials... giving us a boost and immediate functionality.

And now for the fun part.. I am now in the hunt for used equipment, such as:

Woodworking equipment
Metalworking equipment
Fiber Arts equipment and supplies
Jewelry-making equipment and supples.

I have lined up a digital project and screen! As you look at the building from the street, the left side will be a coworking facility, with an open floorplan and high ceilings. I have a container of desks, sofas, and chairs ON THE WAY.

The back of the left side/wing will be a flex space for presentations, and there is a stage for performances or live music.

The center portion of enclosed workshops will be the location of CSR (computer, solar & robotics) and other 'clean' workshop space.

The right wing will be the workshop, with metal and woodworking. We also have space for 4-5 rental studios - approximately 12 by 20 rooms that can be rented for startup teams or anyone working on a big piece they don't want to be lugging back and forth from the shop.

As for collecting the equipment we need... I will be looking to buy some outright. But we have another proposition, which is that any business or individual with surplus equipment can sell it to the makerspace in exchange for shares!

The reason I love that possibility is because I always envisioned this to be a community investment, where anyone interested and (legally) qualifying can be a part of it, earn a small return on their investment, and come in and see their equipment both well-maintained and put to good use.

As you can tell, I'm pretty excited about this. And it's so great to share the news.

Workspace Rockland will be opening soon.

09/17/2020

Repair Café International Foundation Email Forms

01/12/2020

BELFAST—Broken zippers, a busted toaster, holey sweaters and buzzing electronics—it was like the Island of Misfit Toys in the small back room of the Belfast Fiber Arts store on Saturday, January 4, where a crowd of people with older or worn items in...

01/17/2019

Starting this fall, new courses, including Introduction to Innovation, Design Thinking and Solution Lab, will be offered to up to 20 students through The Hatchery. However, the program will also include creating a Makerspace in the industrial arts room that will be open to any student with an idea or project.

This will be an area filled with equipment and materials that can be used to explore and build tangible solutions to practical problems. In addition, the lecture hall will be renovated and connected to the library, offering a place for the students to work on solving problems. It will include walls the students can write on as they work out these problems.

Libby also envisions events including TED-style talks, a "How I Built This" series inspired by NPR and cafe nights. She said the school will collaborate with other organizations, including PopTech, and will bring in special speakers from the business and academic communities to talk to the students.

The problems students tackle in this coursework may be large societal issues or simple inventions aimed at common household needs. Students might work on creating better fishing gear or writing computer programs.

School officials have been meeting with experts, including members of Steel House in Rockland, to discuss ways this could work.

A team of administrators is headed to Boston for further research at the end of this week.

The school board has approved the concept.

Rockport — Administrators at Camden Hills Regional High School have been working for about a year on a plan to create The Hatchery, a program aimed at inspiring students to be innovators and inventors.

11/08/2018

Congratulations to Rockport and Camden and the CSD for a plan forward to preserve the Mary E. Taylor school. We look forward to seeing the finished product!

02/23/2018

This is the recording of the Civic Forum on last Friday, Feb 16th at the Rockport Opera House.

Citizens For Maine meeting Feb. 16, 2018 on Vimeo

Camden Maker Space

02/22/2018

Editorial in today's Camden Herald

"Voters will ultimately decide. School leaders plan to put a proposal recommended by the committee on the November ballot. Before that, those circulating a petition may have voters deciding in June whether the school should be given to the town of Camden.

There are some in the community who are passionate about saving the Mary E. Taylor school building. They argue that it has a historical legacy worth preserving; that it is not in bad shape; and that it could be an asset to the community.

Either side could be right. It may make sense to tear the school down, or it may be best to preserve it. The will of the larger community should decide that, and before the people vote they should have the benefit of an open conversation and all the facts"

The school board and Superintendent Maria Libby have an opportunity to prevent a fight over the future of the Mary E. Taylor school if they are willing to listen with an open mind and invite representatives from all sides of the debate to participate in the process.