Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction

After three years in downtown Grand Junction, the Proximity-owned coworking space FACTORY is moving to the Colorado Mesa University campus. FACTORY will open December 2 at the Maverick Innovation Center with a focus on connecting experienced professionals with students interested in entrepreneurship and technology.

The Proximity and CMU partnership is part of an ongoing expansion at the Maverick Innovation Center. In early 2019, the center celebrated the grand opening of a new facility that included the addition of collaborative innovation space as well as the co-location of the CMU Cyber Security Center. During the grand opening event, CMU President Tim Foster communicated that some of the space would be leased to community partners who would in turn help accelerate the mission of the innovation center.

“Proximity’s focus is the future of work which is tied closely to the future of the workforce, and partnership with CMU and the student community will be really big for us,” says Allison Blevins, Chief Operating Officer of Proximity. “We want to push into this future workforce and present that as a model for other coworking spaces.”

The private-public partnership between the Maverick Innovation Center and FACTORY reflects the entrepreneurial campus culture at CMU. The partnership agreement includes student mentoring, office hours, and joint events between students, faculty, and FACTORY members.

“Students might call it collaboration, the private sector might call it coworking, but in the end the goals of FACTORY and the Proximity Network align nicely with the mission of our program,” says Tom Benton, Maverick Innovation Center Director. “This is the right company at the right time to create a culture within our program that is conducive to helping students bring their ideas to life.” 

FACTORY will remain in literal proximity to downtown, and clients and collaborators can utilize the Dash public transportation system to maintain the important connection between CMU and the greater Downtown Grand Junction creative district. The new coworking space location offers nine conference rooms, high-speed internet, and coffee from local roaster Kiln. Flex-desk and dedicated-desk memberships are available, and drop-in members are welcome.