Downtown Wilson is about to get a brand new co-working space. Construction is almost finished on this formerly vacant 8,700 square foot building, and we are thrilled to see the space come to life.
Check out the Gig East website here.
The Gig East Exchange technology hub is home to start-ups, entrepreneurs, and creators. It’s also used as a co-working space and will be home to other programs currently in development.
There have also been several news articles which detail the history of the project. Here are some clips from a 2018 announcement.
The Innovation Hub construction will be funded in part by a $1.1 million grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation from its Community-Based Grantsmaking Initiative. The City of Wilson will contribute up to $1.6 million toward the project, which will be partially offset by revenue generated by the facility. Once complete, the Innovation Hub will offer a modern co-working space for entrepreneurs, equipped with gigabit service from Greenlight Community Broadband, Wilson’s municipal broadband system. The Hub will offer individual work spaces and small office suites for growing companies. Support services such as legal, financial and marketing expertise will be offered, as well as diverse programming to build connections.
“We are honored that the Golden LEAF Foundation has demonstrated such confidence in Innovate Wilson’s vision to be a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship in our community,” said Grant Goings, Wilson City Manager. “Clearly, our application benefited from community collaboration. In particular, Barton College and Wilson 20/20 were critical partners in this effort. “
“The Innovation Hub represents a strong effort by Wilson to attract and retain the high level of talent that its current and future employers will demand,” said Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF President. “We are pleased to support a creative strategy well supported by the public and private sectors.”
The Innovation Hub was identified as a key strategy to strengthen and diversify Wilson’s economy through the community’s InnovateNC project. Wilson was selected, along with Asheville, Greensboro, Pembroke, and Wilmington, by the Emerging Issues Forum in 2015 to participate in the inaugural InnovateNC cohort, completing the process last year by finalizing a strategic plan focused on creating a more resilient economy in Wilson.
“Wilson has been a leader in our state in both the agriculture and manufacturing economies for generations,” said Goings. “In both cases, bold decisions by community leaders placed Wilson on a path to success. We are being very intentional about building the foundations for success in the innovation economy. ”