The Staunton Innovation Hub is bringing co-working space and remote work to the River City for the entrepreneurial spirit.
The Hub opened in downtown Staunton at 32 N. Augusta St. and 11 N. Central Ave. in 2018. Harrisonburg Innovation Hub followed a couple of years ago, and now the Hub is planning to serve Waynesboro entrepreneurs.
“It just happened,” said Staunton Innovation Hub Director Hannah Cooper. “As we have seen the need for workspace in Staunton, since 2020, I have seen the need has multiplied quite a bit.”
A bigger need for workspace is in rural areas and the Hub saw a need in the Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro area of the Virginia Metalcrafters building, a building which has welcomed several new businesses lately, including Happ Coffee Roasters and Common Wealth Crush.
“It just seemed like a need we needed to fulfill, and the pieces fell into place,” Cooper said.
The Virginia Metalcrafters building provides a “unique energy” for a co-working space.
“People want to be on this end of Waynesboro,” Cooper said of the new businesses, as well as Basic City Beer Co. “I really feel like this has brought a new energy.”
According to Cooper, the Hub knew a smaller space would work in Waynesboro than in Staunton. The difficult decision was deciding where in Waynesboro, because the Hub had several good options. The space in Waynesboro will be approximately 6,100 square feet of private offices, a conference room, a kitchen area, co-working space and focus rooms.
The Waynesboro Innovation Hub is expected to open in March or April of 2024, and will be looking for a part-time Communications Manager.
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Staunton Innovation Hub welcomes new business development manager – Augusta Free Press
Staunton Innovation Hub celebrates renovations milestone – Augusta Free Press
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Rebecca Barnabi
