Howard County’s first “co-worker” space officially opened this week during a Monday ceremony at Inventrek Technology Park held by Indiana University Kokomo and the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance.
The 3,000-square-foot allotment — made possible through a $25,000 grant from Innovate Indiana — offers park members any-time access to work and meeting space, desk and lounge areas, conference rooms and fiber and WiFi connections. It also has copy/print/scan capabilities, secure storage, a CAD lab, mail room and coffee bar access. Members pay month-to-month or yearly rates, with students receiving a discount.
IU Kokomo Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke described the space — also known as The Shared Drive — as yet another component of the bicentennial initiative by Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie to help build a more prosperous and innovative Indiana by creating a statewide culture of “building and making.” IU will celebrate its bicentennial in 2020.
“Today is another step in promoting the economic vitality of our region. Part of the regional campus mission is to be a good steward of place.”
— Susan Sciame-Giesecke, IU Kokomo chancellor
“This is going to be a resource for students and the community alike to share best practices, in a collaboration that will ultimately build the region’s economy.”
— David Gard, IU’s assistant vice president for economic development
Indiana University Kokomo has been involved with Inventrek since its inception in 2004, as Chancellor Emerita Ruth Person helped secure a $1 million grant to renovate the building for use as an incubator. At present, 28 businesses rent dedicated office space at Inventrek.
For more information about the project, read here. To view a short video segment about The Shared Drive, please watch this Oct. 26 news report aired by WISH-TV (Channel 8) in Indianapolis.
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