3 minute read
Workspace Fosters Innovation and Community
By E-Center Staff Writer
This past fall, MSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach (E-Center) hosted a ribbon cutting and open house for Cowork @ the Hub, a cutting-edge co-working space in the heart of Starkville. Housed in the MSU Research and Technology Corporation’s Innovation Hub downtown, the 4,000 square-foot space provides collaborative and flexible shared workspaces ideal for freelancers, startups and remote professionals.
Cowork is open to the public and features eight reserved offices and 13 flexible desks. Memberships include access to extensive open work areas, conference rooms and other spaces outfitted for meetings and brainstorming sessions.
Careful attention has been given to alignment with the E-Center’s dedication to innovation and sustainability. Among the unique features that Cowork offers are two specially retrofitted Ford Think electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with solar charging. These EVs are available for members to use around town and offer convenient transportation to the MSU Idea Shop, where they can enjoy complimentary access to 3D printers and other rapid prototyping capabilities.
“We aim to provide a creative, flexible workspace that stimulates innovative thinking and nurtures a vibrant community of entrepreneurs,” says Terrence Green, Manager of Cowork, who is an E-Center alumnus and Memphis’ 2022 Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
The E-Center was founded in 2009 and has become a prominent establishment in the state’s entrepreneurial landscape, thanks to a series of steady investments. Its leadership sees Cowork as a cornerstone for expanding tech entrepreneurship and deepening integration into the community.
“We’re thrilled to bring this concept to Starkville. It’s a long-awaited dream come true,” says Eric Hill, Director of the E-Center. “This initiative creates a central hub for the numerous individuals and freelancers in our area – especially in tech – who are working from home but yearn for a sense of community. We want to involve them in the thriving entrepreneurial scene here, which includes startups originating within MSU and in the broader community.”
The project is funded in part by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which is supporting efforts at the MSU Innovation Hub overall.
“The SBA has been a tremendous partner of MSU, backing numerous projects aimed at supporting founders, and we’re grateful for their trust in our execution,” remarks Hill.
The project also aims to benefit startups by students graduating from MSU, offering affordable offices near downtown.
“It provides a way for community entrepreneurs to plug in with campus efforts,” says Hill. “Our E-Center student startups could also choose to locate their businesses inside the Cowork space even prior to graduation.”
Various memberships are available. Businesses desiring space intermittently can expect to pay $99 per month for 24/7 access to shared space, while companies looking for dedicated flex or reserved office spaces will pay $249 to $429 per month. Cowork also offers weekday passes for $10. The revenue will be reinvested to maintain the space and support E-Center operations, with a goal of long term self-sustainability.
For more information, visit Cowork’s website at coworkmsu.com.
