Los Angeles public fab and machine shop

[customsfactory]

its workable...check this out.
www.techshop.com

I do understand your concern but it is already delt with as far as insurance goes. As far as funding goes I have a lot of sources that I have not even contacted yet about it, and crazier things have happened...but yes if it does not work this way then i will get traditional funding.

Lou

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by customsfactory

its workable...check this out.
www.techshop.com

I do understand your concern but it is already delt with as far as insurance goes. As far as funding goes I have a lot of sources that I have not even contacted yet about it, and crazier things have happened...but yes if it does not work this way then i will get traditional funding.

Lou

yeah, as long as you have enough cash flow to pay the bills it'll work. I would not cut corners on my liability insurance company though, because it is not a question of if, it's a question of when someone gets hurt. And if it's a bad injury you may have trouble securing insurance from then on.

Good luck, like the idea, liability part scares the heck out of me.

[69znc]

I grow up as a military brat. The on base shop that provide this to the car lovers, new enlisters and senior officers, was an amazing place of equality, bonding and sharing. I know the insurance issue is different as it was Air Force sponsor but yet accidents were very very rare. More importantly the demand was huge. I think you would need to have teachers and managers to avoid the issues but I think the economic could work. This is one of my thougths upon retirement. The capital is significant but I would not over invest in tools few could use.

I would go for it.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Its a good idea but you could have to run it like a gym or the techshop. you pay a membership fee and release all liability with a form. Good luck with it. If you ran it like a tech school focusing on unemployed workers. CA has grants and programs to help funding.

[John510]

When I opened my second store I wish people would have donated me 50K....


But no I was stuck getting a loan

[Vince@Meanstreets]

at least you got a loan!! lol

[frankv11]

Good luck

It's not crazy just a different approach.
Go for it.

[69znc]

I agree. Like a track club. Flat initiation fee either one time or yearly plus monthly or yearly dues give you so many hours. After that it is by the hour or usage.

[toddshotrods]

The shop (Columbus Idea Foundry) where my cars are going together is part community workshop. In fact, that's how it started - as a 2500 sq-ft, community workshop. It has since (in ~3 years) grown to a 24,000 sq-ft community workshop/business incubator. The Inhaler Project is a new start-up collaboration between my personal biz and that workshop/incubator, housed in a studio in the complex.

I said all that just to stress the point that I am very familiar with what you're starting. It's a great concept and works extremely well. Our complex is absolutely flooded with talent and creativity, and has gained a great reputation and loads of respect in the community.

We also did a Kickstarter to help with the expansion from 10,000 sq-ft to 20,000, and now 24,000 - it was much smaller than what you're seeking but was successful by almost 100% over the goal. The key is finding a way to target thousands of people who think it is a good idea for the community and see their contribution as helping with that goal. These community workshops really can do that. We sponsored a local high school robotics team, that went on to place at or near the top in national competition. We have interns from schools and colleges who get a real taste of what American creativity and ingenuity look like, outside the classroom. It's one thing to read about designing and manufacturing stuff in class text, but another to see it actually happening - I love seeing the faces light up (even with a lot of older folk). Those are the things you have to pitch for the Kickstarter, to the people who they mean something to.

Here's to you reaching that exponential growth period, so I'll have a place to start my next hot rod project, when I move there!

[Fluid Power]

Lou,
Man, lots of neysayers today.

Here is another place that figured out the logistics.


http://www.buildmoreworkshop.com/

Best of luck

Darren