[TheThinkTank] Start-up question.

[Bob Giordano]

We've had 8 different shops over 11 years.  The current one works best:
2,000 sq. ft, wood floors, on a trail, near downtown the river and U.,
2,000 sq. ft. out side secure storage.  We pay $500 a month, and raise
that money through the shop donation jar.

-Bob, Free Cycles Missoula


>
> On 7/20/07, Andrew Bushaw <plan_9 at riseup.net> wrote:
>>
>> Hello,
>> I'm currently working in a collective to start a community bike shop
>> in Fargo, ND. So far so good, we have a fiscal agent that is very well
>> respected in the community and is very hands off. We have many
>> interested volunteers, an agreement with our favorite LBS to get their
>> old tools and quite possibly their used bike inventory. We have quite
>> a bit of community support and really feel like we can make this work.
>> However, we have had difficulty procuring space. We as a city are
>> currently going through a period of "downtown revitalization" which is
>> gentrifying many possible locations. Downtown is strategically located
>> between two cities and three college campuses, so we would really like
>> to make that our home. Does anyone have any experience partnering with
>> other organizations? Does anyone have any good ways to talk to
>> property owners who are holding out to develop into office or condo
>> space? What are the incentives to rent/donate space to us? Also, we
>> are beginning our grant writing and are wondering if anyone has an
>> approximation as to how much we can reasonably write for, who are
>> friendly foundations, ect. Is there any shop that is funded in some
>> way other than through grants? Thanks, Andrew