Innovate Newport joins regional coworking company collaboration

INNOVATE NEWPORT - the project seeking to repurpose the former Sheffield School into a professional coworking space - announced it had partnered with Boston-based coworking space company WorkBar. Pictured is a rendering of the completed Innovate Newport project. / COURTESY NORTHEAST COLLABORATIVE ARCHITECTS AND STUDIO TROIKA
INNOVATE NEWPORT - the project seeking to repurpose the former Sheffield School into a professional coworking space - announced it had partnered with Boston-based coworking space company WorkBar. Pictured is a rendering of the completed Innovate Newport project. / COURTESY NORTHEAST COLLABORATIVE ARCHITECTS AND STUDIO TROIKA

NEWPORT – Innovate Newport, the project which seeks to turn the former Sheffield School into a coworking space, joined forces with the Boston-based WorkBar to complete the transformation.

Announced Friday, the agreement will see nine-year-old firm WorkBar provide staff training, member benefits and community building services to the Rhode Island-based company.

Tuni Schartner, director of innovation and entrepreneurship for Innovate Newport, views the partnership as a significant boost for the project.

“Not only will it greatly expedite the build-out of our coworking space by utilizing WorkBar’s proven best practices, methodology and processes, it will also fuel our efforts to provide a direct link between Boston’s thriving ecosystem and the innovative talent found in the Greater Newport region,” she said in a statement.

- Advertisement -

Through the agreement, Innovate Newport members will now be able to access services at the nine WorkBar locations and 12 partner sites throughout the region.

Such WorkBar partner sites include Red Dwg Library in Pawtucket and Groundwork in New Bedford.

Expected to open in February, Innovate Newport will be comprised of 33,000 square feet of repurposed coworking, private and meeting space available to the community via a membership platform.

Per the Friday announcement, Innovate Newport is on track to open in February. / COURTESY INNOVATE NEWPORT
Innovate Newport is on track to open in February. / COURTESY INNOVATE NEWPORT

Aimed at spurring further development in the city and surrounding South County region, Innovate Newport is a joint initiative between the City of Newport, Newport County Development Council and the Economic Development Foundation of Rhode Island.

Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.

No posts to display