What do I want to make today?

That's the question you'll be asking yourself when you walk through the doors of Hub City Makerspace in Nanaimo.  

There isn't an option currently North of Victoria or without taking a ferry for people who want to create, and lack the room, resources or knowledge to do so.  It's Hub City Makerspace's goal to change that.

How? Simple. Provide a light industrial space where our members can have access to tools. Woodworking tools, metalworking tools, tools for electonics, and high-tech tools. From hammers to laser cutters, soldering irons to 3D printers, Hub City Makerspace will be the go-to place for those who want to create.

A similar concept in the US called TechShop has spawned a group of inventors, entrepreneurs, hobbyists and collaborators who wouldn't have otherwise been able to access the tools and equipment needed to realize their dreams.

Many people I've spoken with in Nanaimo over the course of my market research love this idea. In the first week of our social media campaign alone we had nearly 350 people look at our proposal. There are those who live in condos and apartments and don't have access to a shop. There are others who have a small home and no room for one. Still others want access to large and/or expensive tools such as laser cutters, CNC machines, or 3D printers. With your help, we can get these people creating!

This is where you come in. Hub City Makerspace is my solution to a few problems in Nanaimo. Right now, our unemployment rate in this city is high, jobs are scarce, and vacancies are up because people are leaving the region to find work in other places. I can attest to this, because after one month of fruitless job searching and speaking with other job seekers, many people are moving to Alberta to take advantage of jobs in the oil sands. Like most of them, I don't want to leave my home.

I can't fix our economy, however, if I receive funding for my project I can offer employment for myself and at least one other person. Add to that the fact that people using the services of Hub City Makerspace will be able to sell their products to the public, either in-store or online, and you have a recipe for business innovation like this region has never seen before. People will be able to come in, work on their projects, store their in-progress works, and sell them if they choose.

In essence, Hub City Makerspace will enable people who were previously looking to leave the community the opportunity to stay...and to thrive.

Hub City Makerspace 

Build a project, build a friendship, build a community!

Business Plan

January 2013

Vision:

• To provide the people of Nanaimo a location where they can drop in, gain access to tools and materials relating to maker projects in the following media:

1. Electronic art media

2. Woodworking

3. Metalworking

4. 3-D printed media

• To give elementary and secondary students the opportunity to explore their creative side by providing tours and information showing makers in action and giving them access to cutting-edge tech tools.

• To give people who don't have the space to store tools/equipment in their residences (apartment, condo, small house, renters) a private locker and communal workshop space so they might be able to create.

Financials:

• Startup funding ideas include:

• Indiegogo

• Donations from business in exchange for product placement/advertising

• Angel Investors

• Traditional Loans

• Membership is required for continual access to Hub City Makerspace, fees would range in price depending on access needed.  (Prices are only approximate, and may change based on community interest)

• $150/month – Full membership, unlimited visits

• $45/day - Drop in rate

• $35/day – Guest of member

• Special rates for schools based on material usage/time needed/space booked

• $30/month – 3x5 locker rental for tool/project storage

• Corporate rate – for businesses wishing to give their employees a membership. To be considered.

Required operating space:

Hub City Makerspace will rent/lease a medium-sized light industrial building that has existing ventilation in place or can support such ventilation as required by WorkSafe BC. Separate areas will need to be in place to keep the metal shop, woodworking shop and electronics areas apart to avoid cross-contaminating areas with dust/debris.

Hours of operation:

Seven days a week, 9:00am – 9:00pm. Premium members will have keyholder access and will be able to access the grounds 24/7. Video surveillance with off-site image storage and individual alarm codes for each member will add increased security to the property and contents.

Community Involvment:

Hub City Makerspace will engage with the community by offering courses for a minimal charge. Whenever possible, Hub City Makerspace would contract the services of an expert in the field of study. Courses could include, but not be limited to: 

• Woodworking

• Small electronics

• Hobbyist welding

• Re-purposing common items

• Renewable energy/green technology

Working in partnership with the local school district, Hub City Makerspace will also reach out to students by offering field trip based outings where teachers and their classes can explore the concepts of DIY building, re-purposing, and creating new objects using imagination and ingenuity.

The ultimate goal of Hub City Makerspace is to create lasting connections between people, their neighbors, and their community through shared interests and discovery and to stimulate this regions economy.