Informational session slated for June 25
Gravitate Coworking is exploring opening a location in Jefferson. Geoff Wood, founder of Gravitate Coworking, will hold an informational / Q&A session Tuesday, June 25, at 6 pm at the Welcome Center at Thomas Jefferson Gardens.
Gravitate Coworking, the largest coworking organization in Iowa with offices in downtown Des Moines and Valley Junction, is host to a coworking community of more than 1,000 members. Gravitate provides workspace for freelancers, remote workers, and entrepreneurs, providing community, collaboration and lots and lots of coffee.
Gravitate was named the “Best Coworking Space in Iowa” by Symmetry50 and was identified as one of “The 50 Best Coworking Spots in America” by Big 7 Travel.
Geoff Wood started Gravitate in July 2013 to work with freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote workers in the heart of downtown Des Moines. In 2017, Gravitate expanded to West Des Moines with its Valley Junction office. In April 2019, the downtown Gravitate office relocated to a new downtown location, doubling in size to more than 13,000 ft.
Wood describes himself as the founder, connector, and the space captain of Gravitate. Wood also hosts a podcast, speaks at conferences, organizes events and has been helping tell the story of the Iowa startup community since 2009.
When asked about the idea of expanding to Jefferson, he said “Expanding into rural Iowa had not been a planned next step for us, but with all of the great things happening in Jefferson, including the Forge, the ideas included in the Vision 2020 Plan, and the general forward-thinking approach taken by the community, we decided it would be worth taking a look. Everything we’ve seen has indicated that this would be a great fit as Gravitate’s next office location.”
“Coworking is a great next step for Jefferson and Greene County,” said Chris Deal, a Greene County resident helping Wood with the informational session. “In the short term, it will allow the large number of remote workers and freelancers in the area better access to office amenities and a community to connect with. In the long term, it is one of the best ways for Greene County to attract remote workers and telecommuters to our community. It is also a great way to encourage entrepreneurship and startups. It aligns perfectly with our idea of Greene County as a hub for the ‘Silicon Prairie’.”
Coworking, according to Jamie Orr, a founder of a similar space in Tahoe, is “about creating a better place to work, and, as a result, a better way to work. Coworking spaces provide more than just office space. They are community centers, friendly gathering places, think tanks. When you rent a desk or an office, you gain coworkers to bounce ideas off and that support you professionally in a way that you can’t find working from home or in the corporate office.”
The informational session will provide background on coworking in general and about how Gravitate runs their spaces. There will be opportunity for attendees to ask questions. Anyone interested in the idea of coworking in Greene County is encouraged to attend!
