Busy Coworking has seven desks in its current space and room to expand in an adjacent space.
A new coworking spot in Iowa City is open for business. And for busyness.
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Busy Coworking earlier this month officially opened the doors to its third-floor space at 218 East Washington St. It’s starting small but has plenty of room to grow as it aims to provide affordable, comfortable workspace to independent professionals in downtown Iowa City.
The opening was the culmination of a year worth of work by co-founders Sheila Samuelson and Jordan Running. Samuelson, a sustainable business consultant at Bright Green Strategy, and Running, an independent web developer, decided to open a coworking space because of frustration they experienced in their professional lives and saw other people struggling with as well.
“So many people in Iowa City work out of their homes or the cafe, and many of these people want something more, but can’t afford the high cost of a traditional office space downtown,” Samuelson said in an email interview. “These are our potential members. Some work remotely from their jobs, some are entrepreneurs, and some choose to work independently.”
But Busy Coworking’s founders hope their space provides more than just a place to work. “Our vision is creating a shared sense of community for independent professionals and entrepreneurs,” Samuelson said, “where by sharing space and resources, connections and partnerships organically happen.”
The space currently has seven desks, which are shared by members. When Busy Coworking hits capacity in its current space, Samuelson and Running plan to expand it into an adjacent room. Eventually, Busy Coworking hopes to occupy the entire third floor above the Chait Galleries. Busy Coworking hopes to have more than 25 members by the end of the year and serve over 100 professionals annually.
Payment plans for the space range from $15 for daily drop-ins to $225 a month for quarterly, reserved-desk memberships.
In Busy Coworking’s quest to provide a boost for Iowa City’s professionals, it received a big boost from Iowa City, which provided a $14,600 forgivable loan to help the coworking space cover up-front costs. That capital has been used to furnish the space and pay for legal consultation.
“We feel very lucky to live in a city that understands the value of supporting the entrepreneurial community,” Samuelson said, “and carving out a space for them downtown.”
Sheila Samuelson (left) and Jordan Running established Busy Coworking to meet the needs of independent professionals like themselves.
Busy Coworking is located in downtown Iowa City, in a third-floor space.
Samuelson and Running hope to see their space grow to 25 members by year’s end.
Credits: Photos courtesy of Busy Coworking.
Note: Danny Schreiber contributed to this story.
