Launch Putnam County unveiling due Oct. 25

Friday, October 21, 2016

Collaborative, low-cost workspace is coming to Greencastle with the introduction of Launch Putnam County, a co-working space for entrepreneurs, small business owners and anyone else who wants to experience the benefits of a community work area.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house is set for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 16 S. Jackson St. Lunch will be provided by Putnam Inn and sponsored by Comcast Business. A special partnership will be announced at that time.

Co-working spaces are becoming an increasingly popular fixture in communities across the United States. These communal offices are rented inexpensively and provide members with low-cost work areas that often include desks, Internet, conference rooms and more. All of these spaces are shared with other members, and collaboration and relationship-building among members is encouraged and facilitated.

At Launch Putnam County, members can enjoy benefits such as high-speed Internet, a conference room, round-the-clock access to the facilities, a kitchenette, a copy machine and partnerships with local merchants to provide discounts and benefits to members. Launch Putnam County costs $399 a year.

Launch Putnam County is the brainchild of Vincent Aguirre, Andrew Smith and Michael Woodsmall. The three entrepreneurs, who run the digital services company 25/7 Consulting, are DePauw University graduates who have remained in the Greencastle area out of a desire to give back to the local community. Their goal of encouraging the growth of the small business and entrepreneurial spirit of the Greencastle area drove their decision to start Launch Putnam County, as did their respect for the ideas of other Indiana coworking champions.

“We were inspired by the work of leaders such as Launch Fishers and John Wechsler, and we wanted to bring the same benefits they have brought to Fishers, to the hard working community of Greencastle,” Aguirre said.

“We grew to love this area as DePauw students; we love it even more now as community members and entrepreneurs, and we want to create a space where new initiatives can take root and grow in this community,” Aguirre added.

Co-working movements such as Launch Fishers have become popular because they offer people the advantage of collaborating with others while saving money they would otherwise have had to spend on renting office space.

“Being around and interacting with other imaginative, skilled, and motivated people provides an environment where great ideas can grow,” Aguirre said. “We here at Launch Putnam County want to make that environment available to anyone who needs it here in Putnam County.”

As a member of Launch Putnam County, persons also gain access to the entire Indiana Co-working Passport Program.

For more information on the other co-working spaces around the state, visit indianacoworkingpassport.com.

Launch Putnam County would not have been possible without the assistance of a community of sponsors and helpers. Supporters of this new initiative include Comcast Business, Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce, Gracehouse LLC, Scorpion Protective Coatings, Hometown Visions LLC, Launch Fishers, Hoosier Wifi Guy and the City of Greencastle.

Current members include CP Travels, National Road Magazine, Hometown Visions LLC, 25/7 Consulting LLC, Coworx Staffing Services and Michael Woodsmall.

Launch Putnam County is located on the Greencastle square and is open to anyone who wants to benefit from the inexpensive and community-based work area.

More information is available at launchputnamcounty.com, or by contacting Aguirre at vincent[at]launchputco.com.

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