Entrepreneurs Slate Ballard and Ken Janke had always dreamed of introducing and modeling a new way of problem solving for the City of New Haven. They sought to create a space that not only encouraged diversity, collaboration and innovation, but that also brought together for-profits and nonprofits, as well as individuals with a variety of skill sets and backgrounds to share ideas.
The Grove is the fruit of that passion.
Opened in 2010, The Grove has become a hybrid coworking space and incubator for more than 100 Connecticut freelancers, startups, small businesses, nonprofits and social entrepreneurs. In less than three years, The Grove has already expanded from its original 1,200-square-foot space into a nearly 9,000-square-foot space on Orange Street.
“We provide them with WiFi, coffee, and meeting rooms, but most of all we provide them with community,” Ballard says. “We intentionally cultivate a community that celebrates collaboration and the sharing of ideas and knowledge.”
The Grove operates like any membership with users paying for a certain number of hours that they can access the space. Members can sign up for 50, 100, or unlimited hours a month for $50, $150, and $250 respectively. Private office members sign more traditional leases and the space also offers meeting rooms that anyone can rent by the hour for a half- or full-day.
Ballard says the biggest obstacle he and Janke faced initially was communicating the concept.
“We were the first coworking space to hit the area and no one had seen anything like it before,” Ballard said. “Now our biggest obstacle is managing so much space and trying to keep a growing community connected. It’s important to our culture that people know what each other does; it’s what facilitates collaboration.”
The Grove, named New Haven Small Business of the Year in 2011, The Grove was also chosen as the spot for New Haven’s Innovation Hub, The Grid. Gov. Dannel Malloy announced and launched CT Next, the statewide innovation ecosystem, from the space as well.
But beyond the accolades, Ballard says, The Grove is all about its members.
“They participate, they contribute, they cocreate with us to make The Grove what it is,” Ballard said. “Our biggest success has been seeing our members collaborate with one another.”
Many projects have gotten off the ground that would have never been thought of before because of the encouragement, support and knowledge of a community which is willing to share, according to Ballard.
“The Grove would not be what it was if it weren’t for our members bringing their skills and knowledge into the space and really taking ownership of a culture of collaboration and contribution.”
