New Mexico coworking space supports local economic development

Located in Downtown Farmington, New Mexico, Connect Space offers flexible workspace for entrepreneurs and the local business community. We caught up with Space Manager Melissa Porch on how Connect Space focuses on driving community business development and her favorite part about operating a coworking space.

Why did you decide to open a coworking space?  

Coworking spaces are a perfect way to support economic development, especially being located in our historic Downtown Main Street District. The property is a bit of a landmark (it was the original JC Penney Department store years ago!) so when it became vacant, the owner had the vision for a coworking and office space to contribute to the district and business community overall.

Tell us about your space. What kinds of amenities does it have? What makes it unique?  

We have over 9,000 square feet all centered around a live 20′ tree and atrium which gives us the ability to meet just about any coworking or meeting need. Waterfall fountains are our sound mitigation and it works perfectly. It’s so peaceful! Throughout the space there is high end furniture, large monitors, an on-site kitchen and even a retro vibe lounge complete with pool table and meeting space downstairs. The entire experience here definitely exceeds people’s expectations.  

What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space? 

Knowing that the space and affordable memberships could be the resource that brings an entrepreneur or start up company success.  I’m an entrepreneur at heart, so I love that.

What’s your favorite story about one of your members?  

We’ve been officially open for about two months and one of our first private office members initially signed up for just a couple months. After being here about a week, he decided to stay permanently. He shared that he expects to more than double his business due to the convenience and efficiency the space gives him.

What advice would you offer to someone wanting to open a coworking space?  

Do your research, get inspiration from other spaces and be ready to lean way into your network and local community. Especially in smaller communities where this model is a new concept, you’re going to need as much help as possible sharing it. And most of all, be persistent and don’t give up!

Learn more about Connect Space on Facebook and Instagram.

The Proximity Network

Hundreds of coworking spaces around the world use Proximity to manage memberships, digital door access, reservations, billing, events and much more. Coworking and flexible workspaces can try the Proximity platform for free or schedule a demo with our team to learn more.