By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
There’s nothing else like it in Hays.
BriefSpace, now open at 219 W. 10th, is a shared working environment for at home professionals, start-up entrepreneurs, traveling business owners/employees and consultants.
“There’s always been office space for rent in Hays but not a place like this,” said Doug Williams, interim director of Grow Hays.
“You can come in and pick your spot, open 24 hours a day, every day, and it’s very affordable. You’ll also have access to high-speed internet, meeting facilities, conference rooms and free coffee.”
To familiarize the community with the concept of coworking spaces, free access to BriefSpace is offered through the end of August.
The environment is much more conducive to work than a home office in the kitchen corner. “It gets people out of the house and you don’t have to worry about the kids or your To-Do list.”
There’s a sense of community at BriefSpace, Williams says, with the “opportunity to collaborate with like-minded professionals in a cost-effective basis.”
Membership options range from monthly reserved coworking to day passes.
Amenities include training rooms, private phone booths, coffee bar, copier/printer/scanner, kitchen and an on-site community manager.
The basement level offers the large meeting room for 40 to 50 people, an executive conference room, and a full kitchen, which can handle catered events or other food brought in.
Members also have access to the economic development professionals with Grow Hays, who recently moved their offices to BriefSpace from the Hays Welcome Center on Vine Street.
“We foresee small groups of entrepreneurs possibly operating out of here and associating with other professions such as an accountant or other financial person,” William predicts. “We anticipate a lot of things happening down here.”
Professional and social events will also be hosted at BriefSpace in its unique common areas. The 7,000 square foot storefront in downtown Hays is the site of the former Sears store, remodeled with an industrial chic look.
“We’re going to offer these facilities to the public at large for a fee but priority will be given to members of BriefSpace.”
Interested persons can become a community member of BriefSpace at no charge at www.briefspace.com which is updated with emails about what’s happening in BriefSpace and the availability of rooms.
Williams anticipates a wide range of business interests will BriefSpace their home and the workers themselves to range in age.
“Interestingly, we talked to a fellow who owns six of these type facilities across the country who said 40 percent of their members are 50 years old or older,” Williams related. “It’s not a demographic I originally anticipated but he said retirees, that type of thing, are very popular in this type of facility.”
There are co-working facilities similar to BriefSpace in eastern Kansas, including in Wamego and Manhattan.
Being a member of BriefSpace gives members access to many other shared working facilities in the U.S. that utilize the same operational software by the vendor Proximity.
“They have other facilities in the Midwest that they provide software and services for and as BriefSpace member, you have access to those facilities at no additional cost if you happen to be in those communities.”
Building access to BriefSpace is 24/7, depending on the membership level.
“Some people work different hours,” Williams noted. “They’re on the road during the day and need to do some office work late at night or early in the morning.
“Another one of the benefits of having what’s almost your own office is being able to come and go as you please, working the hours that you want to work.”
The facility is secured by a special lock on the door accessible via a smartphone or fob and activity is monitored by cameras.
BriefSpace was designed and built through a $600,000 grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in Logan.
“If not for them, this facility would not be here and we’re very thankful. They’re very instrumental in economic development in western Kansas,” Williams said.
More information about BriefSpace is available by calling Williams at 785-623-1100 or 785-628-3102 and online at www.growhays.com.