Submitted by Spaceworks

Spaceworks expands its support for creative entrepreneurs in Tacoma by offering expert coaching and small business microgrants through its Creative Enterprise business accelerator program thanks to a $10,000 grant from South Sound Together*.
Spaceworks South Sound Together
Photographer Mihael Blikshteyn presents his business plan for review at Spaceworks’ small business pitch event in November 2016 upon completing Spaceworks’ Creative Enterprise training program. In 2017, Mihael Blikshteyn Photography was one of 13 businesses accepted to Spaceworks’ accelerator program. Photo courtesy: Kris Crews

Spaceworks’ pilot accelerator program was developed in 2016 for its Creative Enterprise alumni businesses who are poised for growth. In 2017 the program continues with the second cohort selected from past participants. Thirteen applications were accepted to the accelerator program which provides strategic planning, one-on-one coaching, financial coaching, content-specific workshops, peer mentorship, and a $500 microgrant per Creative Enterprise.

As part of the program, each business will submit a microgrant application to address a specific need to improve their business. Spaceworks coordinates a peer-to-peer review process to analyze and approve grant proposals. Last year Spaceworks’ Creative Enterprises used their microgrants for valuable projects including a woodshop air filtration system, accounting and inventory software, and restoration of a vintage printing press, to name a few.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity to give more of these small business microgrants this year,” says Spaceworks Manager Heather Joy. This is the second year that South Sound Together granted funds to Spaceworks’ Creative Enterprise program. This year’s accelerator cohort includes: Adventures by Appointment, Mihael Blikshteyn Photography, Brown Betty 253, N. Dybevik Piano & Co., HMG3D, Pointline, Rotator Creative, Stocklist, Tacoma Tool Library, Tacoma Thrift & Consignment, Townie Shades, The Yes Works, and The Tshirt Men.
Spaceworks provides training, technical assistance, and space to artists and creative entrepreneurs. Read the success stories of the seven businesses who benefitted from the 2016 Creative Enterprise accelerator program in the Spaceworks Spotlight series.
The 2016 participating businesses included: The Arts & Crafts Press, Tease Chocolates, Tinkertopia, birdloft, Write253, Grit City Grindhouse, and Side x Side Creative.
South Sound Together partners, from more than two dozen local businesses and institutions, are working together on two big goals. One of them is spreading the good news about the South Sound through print and digital advertising and sharing stories about what makes our community a great place to live and a good place to do business. The other is to make more good news, by investing several hundred thousand dollars each year in projects that build a stronger community and a stronger economy.