Presentation of a vision for a community hub in Prince Edward County that brings together social and learning services with small enterprise tenants under one roof.

1. Small
enterprise
Social
services
Presentation to Prince Edward
County Municipal Council
July 16, 2015

2. HELLO
MY NAME IS
Introductions

3. 72 KING ST.
Catalyst for this deputation:

4. "First and foremost, building and
leveraging local capacity."
PEC Community Development
Strategic Plan
The key to sustainable
in rural communities?
economic development

5. CHALLENGES
for
N O N - P R O F I T S & S E L F - E M P L O Y E D
Nonprofits are fragile Self-employed are fragmented
Some are perpetually in
fragile financial state.
Many cannot afford proper
locales.
Several spend a
disproportionate amount of
their resources on rent.
Comprise more than 50% of
the businesses in the County,
including 150+ knowledge
workers.
No dedicated co-working hub
for shared access to fibre-
connected broadband, office
services, meeting rooms.

6. A community hub in Prince
Edward County that brings
together social and learning
services with small enterprise
tenants under one roof.
Imagine

7. Synergy & innovation
Learning
Small
enterprise
Social
services

8. PELC THRIVES ON
PARTNERSHIP
C L O S E C O L L A B O R A T I O N W I T H O T H E R A G E N C I E S

9. 2005
COWORKING IS ABOUT COLLABORATION TOO
The concept
originated in
Silicon Valley.
HUNDREDS OF INDEPENDENT COWORKING SPACES WORLWIDE
Open concept
Typically, people work in
one large space with
ergonomic office chairs
and desks.
Flexible tenancy
People can rent a desk
by the year, month,
week or day.
Meeting spaces
Usually, there are meeting
rooms with projectors and
videoconferencing
equipment.
Shared services
Fast broadband Internet,
printer/scanner, and
kitchen.
Community
Regular peer
learning and
networking
events.

10. BENEFITS
of
C O - L O C A T I N G D I V E R S E G R O U P S
Synergies & Savings Stability & More Access Serendipity & Sharing
Shared reception,
meeting and kitchen
spaces
Shared telecom
infrastructure (fibre-
connected broadband,
videoconferencing, VoIP
phone system, tech
support, etc)
Anchor tenants can help
provide stability to
smaller, more vulnerable
non-profits with project-
based funding.
Access hours for
programming and service
delivery can be increased
through shared staffing.
Including small enterprise
connects potential
employees more directly
with possible employers.
Opportunities for
serendipitous sharing of
expertise by independent
professionals with both
managers and clients of
social and learning
services.

11. FITS WITH PEC GOALS
Efficiencies Partnerships Knowledge workers
Learning Unemployment Collaboration

12. Surplus, under-utilized
or under performing
properties in the
County
MEETS NEEDS
1 2 3 4
30 LIKES
1500Gap
40%
% of no diploma, degree
or certificate for ages
25– 64 is 40% higher
than Ontario
average
Economy is changing,
with labour shortages
and increased
independent remote
workers
Goal to support the
growth of professional
service firms and
knowledge based
businesses.
Surplus Education Workforce Knowledge

13. Major actors
co-location
investing in

14. That Council devote some municipal
staff resources to formally investigate
models for co-locating social and
learning services with small enterprise
in Prince Edward County.
Request

15. • Are co-working centres or community hubs
financially self-sustaining?
• Are there existing examples of rural co-
working or co-location of services?
• How are co-working spaces different from
business incubators?
• What is the risk to the municipality?
Questions
you may
have

16. Thank you!