A solution is on the way for local freelance workers, startup-business owners and even students who need a place to call "office" without shelling out hefty rental fees.
Carrboro resident and Web designer Brian Russell is trying to get funding for the Carrboro Creative Coworking Space, what he calls a "professional shared coworking space with a cafelike atmosphere."
For an annual fee or a monthly price, subscribers of the space would have access to the building and its amenities, which could include post office boxes, office supplies and fixtures, tech support and an office assistant.
"We'll have pretty much everything that a regular office would have," Russell said.
Russell said he hopes to attract creative professionals who might not have a permanent office.
He got the idea for Carrboro Creative Coworking after reading about Citizen Space, a co-working facility in San Francisco that he said is a pioneer of the movement.
"A lot of them are freelancers or work at home and found that they miss being around other people to throw ideas off of," Russell said.
Tara Hunt, co-founder of Citizen Space, said that co-working spaces have become popular in big cities but mostly cater to the "tech community." She said towns like Carrboro seem to attract freelance journalists, artists and writers.
Russell said he is in the process of trying to get a loan from the Carrboro Revolving Loan Fund and is working on a business plan.
Carrboro Community and Economic Development Director James Harris said he and Russell have identified a potential site for the space but said he'll wait for Russell to reveal it.
"It's sensibly located in the downtown and has nice parking associated with it," Harris said, adding that the site has free wireless Internet.
Harris said the co-working space in town would be unique and would benefit local professionals that work from home.
"They can do a lot at home in seclusion, but sometimes they need to come out of seclusion. It's an opportunity to come out and interact."
Russell said he is seeking business partners or investors and encourages those interested to take a survey at www.CarrboroCoworking.com.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
