A co-working space in downtown Manchester is expanding its services following the appointment of a new community manager, Angelina Capalbo.
The group, Axis 901, manages a town-owned workspace at 901 Main St. and is supervised by the Planning and Parks and Recreation Department.
Its mission is to equip local innovators, entrepreneurs, and freelancers with the guidance and resources to grow their businesses, Capalbo says.
As an independent contractor, Capalbo recently agreed to an eight-month contract with the town to oversee the space, host community forums, hire expert coaching, expand revenue, and increase membership, she says.
The 5,000-square-foot facility is located on the building’s second floor, where members have access to conference rooms, a 3-D printer, projectors, copiers, scanners, WiFi, mail center, kitchen, and private rooms. Axis 901 shares the building with Manchester Adult Education, and Manchester Community College Arts and Education Center.
Capalbo is planning to develop the building’s third-floor recreation room and rooftop areas. The expansion will include opening new conference rooms, working stations, and assigned desks, she says.
She says she is also tasked with recruiting interns and student entrepreneurs for a smooth transition into the business world.
Payment structures are flexible to meet the needs of members with hourly, daily, and monthly subscriptions available. Rates range from $20 for hourly access to conference rooms to $200 for monthly use around the clock.
The facility’s location is well situated for entrepreneurs in eastern Connecticut and those accessing markets in Springfield and Hartford, she says.
In 2013, First Niagara Bank gave the building to the town, and the MCC Foundation used $500,000 to redevelop the building, Heather Guerette, the Planning Department’s community development program manager, says.
After hearing about the success of co-working spaces, the town outfitted the second floor for Axis 901 and ran the facility through various town staff members, Guerette says.
Capalbo’s expertise will bring new life to the space, she says.
“We are very excited to have Angelina on board,” Guerette says. “We think she will bring a lot of new ideas to the space.”
Around 30 members use the space now, including Jamal Jimerson of Minority Inclusion Project, members of Sentirene, LLC, and Chris Carvache of Cyberpunk Interactive.
Carvache says the space is a great resource for his web design company, adding that his subscription led to partnerships with other members, local businesses, and developing his second business venture, the Opulus Group.
“It has been good to have a local presence in town,” he says. “Meeting the other entrepreneurs has helped me expand our services.”
Carvache signed up two years ago after discovering the Axis 901 sign on Main Street. Working in this professional environment provides a cost-effective solution to working at home, he says.
The goal, Capalbo says, is to help members grow their businesses until they become self-sufficient.
“We are looking to deepen our relationships with local businesses and business owners in town, as well as commercial Realtors for when startups grow out of our space,” she says.
Interested parties are encouraged to schedule a tour or a free one-day trial during office hours from Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., she said.
Capalbo comes to Manchester with experience promoting collaborative events and networking channels to further startup growth throughout the state.
She is the director of CT Innovation Nights, founded CT Startup Trail, Startup Hartford, and runs a parenting event publication called Momford County.
The town’s investment to support local entrepreneurs is key, Capalbo says, as entrepreneurs need affordable office space to grow their business.
“This space shows how much the town believes in entrepreneurship,” Capalbo says.
