How We’ve Built a Professional Community Unlike Any Other [And Why It’s Important]
Written by Josh Mente, Founder and Community Director at Co-Balt Workspace
If you’re familiar with Co-Balt, you’re probably aware of how important community is to us. And if you don’t know much about us yet, I’ll explain: everything we do at Co-Balt is rooted in a sense of community.
In fact, “Close-Knit Community” is one of our three core values: we invest in the community within our walls, in our neighborhood of Hampden, and in Baltimore as a whole.
And I wanted to take an opportunity to explain how we’ve been able to build such an incredible professional community at Co-Balt and why it’s always been so important to us.
Community is Good for Business
In business, we start by putting ourselves in our customers’ shoes.
When I opened Co-Balt, that was the biggest question in my mind: “what would I want if I was a small business owner, a startup, a professional worker, or someone who works remotely?”
The answers to this question will vary widely depending on who you ask. However, there are some core needs that we can solve and address.
Ultimately, our mission is to provide a safe workspace that allows people to connect and grow and to provide amenities that would prove costly as an individual, all the while providing the flexibility of short lease terms with all-in pricing.
In the beginning, I just wanted Co-Balt to be a place where professionals got together for one common mission: the sharing of costs and resources in order to have the benefit of a much larger space and everything that comes with it.
Everyone benefits by sharing rather than being secular.
And as it turned out, community and connection with others were amazing byproducts of that.
What Our Unique Community is All About
At Co-Balt, we’re a community of startups, entrepreneurs, professionals, and remote workers–to me, this is the spirit of what makes America great and it’s something I’m incredibly proud of.
Unlike traditional office space, we’re not secular. Our building isn’t set up in a way where everyone just goes to their suites and passes the day alongside their fellow employees.
Instead, we’re a community of like-minded individuals in pursuit of their dreams. We’re open, welcoming, inviting, and encouraging of this spirit.
This spirit has brought together a diverse group of people from all walks of life and industries–people that would not otherwise meet or interact. We create an environment that fosters savings, creativity, connection, and growth.
Now, when I look back at my question of what my customers actually want, it gives me pause to smile and ask, “who is our customer really? Who are our members?”
And the answer is ultimately anyone and everyone.
We provide the platform and amenities. Our community members create the village.
As a management team, we’re simply here to serve, help, and be supportive of their needs. To create a place where people can come for whatever their needs are.
And as it turns out, what we’ve built is a haven for those in need of quiet space, collaboration, connection, or simply a place to GSD.
We’re along for the ride and we’re ready to serve where needed and to pivot and change with the times.
Community is Good for Baltimore
As I mentioned, our commitment to community doesn’t stop at the walls of our building. We’re deeply engrained in our community of Hampden and of the city of Baltimore as a whole. We love our city and we feel a responsibility to support its local businesses.
But why was Hampden the perfect home for Co-Balt?
Hampden is smack dab in the center of the city. There’s easy access from all points and it’s just off the interstate.
It’s also mostly comprised of rowhomes and local retailers. There isn’t a lot of office space present, let alone space for smaller businesses.
So, we were able to come in and offer a resource to the community of Hampden and the city as a whole–a place where we can hold events, host a meeting, or gather to work.
We’ve put the community of Hampden first in our thoughts. We want to add value to the neighborhood residents and retailers. And we do this in small ways whenever we can, like offering up a shipping container to a local merchant to sell his chef-inspired snowballs–a Baltimore tradition. This stand brings tons of foot traffic to the area which benefits local retailers as well.
Community is at the heart of everything we do because our neighborhood, our city, our citizens, and our local businesses are stronger when we’re together.
If you want to learn more about what Co-Balt’s community is all about, come check it out for yourself.
Want to See What Our Community Is All About?
If you’d like to learn more Co-Balt’s professional community, get in touch. I’d love to meet you and personally walk you through the building.
