Collective effort opens space in downtown Troy
TROY, N.Y. » A ribbon cutting was held Wednesday afternoon for a new entrepreneurial space in downtown Troy. Collective effort, is a co-working space for those passionate about the community and camaraderie.
“On behalf of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District, I want to thank you guys for choosing Troy, for choosing to be part of downtown and for investing in your community,” Downtown Troy Business Improvement District Executive Director Katie Hammon, remarked on the opening of the building at 415 River Street.
After searching around the Capital Region, the space at 415 River St. opened up and they seamlessly moved in. The cofounders secured a Workforce Development Grant for their podcast room, to teach video production and podcasting and the rest of their endeavor is selffunded.
The 5,000 square feet, top floor space has a communal work table, conference rooms, a podcast room, a production area with Adobe Creative Suite software, sectioned areas with couches and hi-tops for meetings and two bean bag loungers, faced to view the Green Island Bridge and the Hudson River, are excellent for breaks.
The idea was born out of a conversation around cofounder emeritus Jessica Coles, about two to three years ago, according to fellow co-founder Patrick Harris Jr. The two, along with Dan Lyles, Jamel Mosely, Roberta Singleton, DeSean Moore, and Alfonso Rodriguez all collaborated to create lives and careers in which they do the work they love.
“I just wanted to thank everyone here as well. Everyone has offered us very brilliantly to help and support which is a huge thing. We’re also trying to build, like being young but also just being in this area it is a part of the culture here,” Harris Jr. said following the ribbon cutting on all the help they’ve received on the move into Troy.
Among the coworking space, members are filmmakers, podcasters, writers, coders/web developers, attorney, a chef, graphic designer, travel agent, and life coach.
Their mission is to foster and empower the value of others, sustainable content and breaking down barriers that have been set up previously, especially for communities of color.
Fittingly, the concept came to fruition around the kitchen table because Jamel, Roberta, and Jessica are the founders of Power Breakfast Club, a community of professionals that provides an inclusive space for dialogue, growth, and connection, either at their bi-weekly Power Breakfast Meetings or digitally with their online group.
As the idea continued to grow, so too did the need for a larger space.
Troy Mayor Patrick Madden offered his welcome to Troy and commented on the building as well.
“I’d like to welcome you here as well, not just to the city but to this building. This is just a great spot. Your energy just seems to reverberate off the walls here, you can sense the excitement,” Madden said.
Collectiveffort’s founders also have deep ties to the area, some as RPI alum.
Memberships have varying production and editing credits ( beginning with a baseline one hour production and two-hour editing starting at $35.00)
Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Membership information can be found at https://collectiveffort.wixsite.com/collectiveffort