Pollinators Inc, a Geraldton-based social enterprise, has celebrated the opening of the “CityHive” coworking and meeting space in Geraldton. Occupying two floors of an iconic, Heritage-listed building on Marine Tce, CityHive provides affordable and flexible space and support for community groups, entrepreneurs and innovation.
CityHive is the first of its kind in regional Australia, showing how co-location of organisations can grow better enterprises while also delivering better social outcomes. Coworking is where different individuals and organisations share the same open workspace benefitting from the support and networking of peers while also saving money through shared infrastructure. Users share the use of offices, meeting or workshop space and can choose the level of commitment or cost to suit their situation.
One hundred percent of the profit earned from rental of workspace and hiring of meeting rooms is re-invested in training and development for local people and organisations leading positive social change.
Pollinators Inc Executive Officer described the development of CityHive “This has been a 3-year community-driven process of piloting, designing, and building to meet the demand for creative shared working space. It was clear to anyone that looked that there was and is enormous potential in Geraldton and many great ideas and organisations were marginalised and unsupported. Creating a space, owned by the community, accessible to anyone, and right in the centre of the CBD designed to support those great ideas, awesome projects and amazing people flourishing was our response to that need.”
“Now it’s here — a space where bankers can work alongside youth leaders, where app developers work alongside community gardeners — we and our members and supporters are very, very excited.”
The development of CityHive has been supported by a range of local organisations and individuals as well as several sponsors:
- Lotterywest through its grants program
- City of Greater Geraldton through its community grants program
- Department of Communities through a Social Enterprise Fund grant,
- Sinosteel Midwest Corporation Limited through sponsorship,
- West Coast Sustainability through donation of time and expertise, and
- Williams + Hughes through donation of time and expertise.
Lotterywest Chairman John Atkins said “Communities develop and innovate when there are spaces for people to get together. CityHive will provide a community hub and co-working space for social entrepreneurs in Geraldton to share ideas and develop creative solutions to social problems.”
“Lotterywest is proud to support Pollinators in taking the lead on training, networking, advocacy and leadership in the region, he said.”
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Ian Carpenter, said he was pleased to see how the City’s Community Grants program had helped Pollinators to expand its social enterprise and give something positive back to the community.
“Pollinators were a successful community grants recipient and they continue to align their concepts to the City’s strategies and desired outcomes of the community consultations held as part of the award-winning 2029 and Beyond project,” he said.
Contacts for further information and photo opportunities:
CityHive is located in Swansea House at 184 Marine Terrace Geraldton and is open 8-6 for visitors and 24 hours for members and users. Tours for the media can be arranged by contacting Andrew
CityHive is hosting several events this week where there are good photo opportunities:
- Tuesday 24th September from 4:30 to 7pm — Public Digital net-working event: https://geraldtondigitalnetworking.eventbrite.com.au/ What’s App with You: https://whatsappwithyou.eventbrite.com.au/
- Thursday 26th September from 1:30 to 5:30pm — Participant-only “Catalyst” training session for social entrepreneurs http://www.wildpollinators.org/catalyst
Andrew Outhwaite, Executive Officer of Pollinators Inc: 0466694702 or 9965 5371
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