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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 F E B R UA R Y 5 , 2 0 1 8 F O C U S G R E AT E R P O R T L A N D A no-frills approach James LaPlante, like Roche years before, was looking last year for a space to share with others whose work is similar to his, but was having trouble finding it. He runs Sputnik Animation out of an office building he owns at 1486 Broadway in South Portland. "In networking with people and talking with people, I realized instead of going downtown, there was enough interest to bring people here," he says, over the sound of hammers and saws. He hopes the renovation will be done by March. LaPlante will initially use about two-thirds of his 3,700-foot split-level building for the coworking business. It has eight private offices, open desk areas, a small conference room and a studio — room for about 30 members. ose who produce video or anima- tion can also rent storage space or equipment. e space isn't limited to those in video production — it's for anyone who wants the environment he's offering, with some limits. "I'm taking a no-frills approach," he says. "ere's no free beer and cof- fee." SoPoCo.Works is for people who want to focus on work, but also want the collegiality and potential for col- laboration that being brings. "I want to build a community, but I want to build a place where the com- munity drives what we do," LaPlante says. In other words, events and other extras will come from the members. Not a get-rich-quick scheme LaPlante said Liz Trice of PelotonLabs "was really helpful" when he started planning. Her advice led him to put in more offices and less open space. "ere's a demand for small office space," he says. Roche agrees — there is a wait- ing list for his small private offices at ink Tank. Global real estate company Jones Lang LaSalle estimated at the end of 2016 that there is more than 27 million square feet of coworking space nationwide. "Regionally, overall in the market and country, it's definitely picking up steam," says Nate Stevens, a broker with CBRE|e Boulos Co. But Stevens says that, while demand for office space in greater Portland is down and vacancy rates are low, the coworking doesn't have much of an impact on the traditional market. Portland-area coworking private offices are generally less than 500 square feet, a size that doesn't have market repercussions. On top of that, the overall amount of coworking space is low com- pared with other cities. Still, coworking has found a niche. "It offers a quick solution, there's no long-term lease," Stevens says. Nationwide, Class A shared office space in a central business district may cost more, with the difference being amenities or services offered, accord- ing to Jones Lang LaSalle. Some small businesses and startups find it more convenient to pay the higher square-footage cost and not have to worry about furniture, interior design, utilities and other costs. Stevens says the spaces are great for incubating small businesses and startups, which then move to larger traditional office space in the city. Roche says he's seen that happen many times. 1-877-722-6243 | sbsavings.bank 1-877-722-6243 | sbsavings.bank WE MIGHT BE CUSTOMER OWNED, BUT WE'RE A FAMILY BUSINESS. Our focus is on you—our friends and families. We see how much you love it here and we do too. As the oldest bank in Maine, we've been here for over 190 years. And we'll be in it together for 190 more. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » CO-WORKING SPACES IN GREATER PORTLAND (CONTINUED) Cloudport Est. 2016 / 63 Federal St., Portland / cloudportme.com Owner: Nik Caner-Medley What it's about: "An ever expanding network with resources that support innovation and growth. We offer an array of amenities to provide you with a comfortable space to be productive. The culture of Cloudport fosters a social and community element that gives each location a unique identity. We value creating an environment that our members look forward to working in every day." Rates: Day pass $20; monthly rates include student membership $100; floating business membership (limited to business hours) $140; cloud plus (unrestricted hours) $200; dedicated desk $400; private office $800. CoworkHERS Est. 2017 / 411 Congress St., Portland / coworkhers.com Founder/CEO: Heather Ashby What it's about: A shared workspace and social club designed to support female professionals; only female-focused coworking space in Portland. "Although we describe ourselves as 'female- focused' that does not apply to gender specifics. We cater to women, and are dominated by women, but welcome all people who wish to be a part of a safe, inspiring, encouraging, non-threat- ening, healthy, non-judgmental environment." Rates: All rates monthly. $40 for students 18–22, 20 hours a week; floating for those over 60, active military or veterans, $85; floating with amenities $100; dedicated desk in shared office $150

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