Fairborn teams with Columbus-based ‘social enterprise’ to transform Main Street

Fairborn has partnered with COhatch to take over the city’s business incubator, becoming the first to be licensed under the Columbus-area based social enterprise’s community investment program, according to a release.

COhatch will bring its “new kind of shared work, social, and family space” to replace Spark, the city’s small business incubator at 305 W. Main St., according to the release.

City officials say COhatch will take over the shared kitchen and co-working spaces at Spark and is working with the Fairborn Development Corporation to bring new life to an entire block of Main Street.

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“With assistance from COhatch, we are leapfrogging our development for the city, so everything will happen more quickly and at a higher intensity with greater results,” City Manager Rob Anderson said in a prepared statement.

Patrick Williams, the COhatch local owner/operator, said the Fairborn location will provide shared office space for small businesses and socially-minded entrepreneurs, and meeting space for community members.

“This location currently offers dedicated desks, meeting rooms and coworking space with private offices available this summer,” Williams said in a prepared statement. “We also offer meeting and event spaces to the public and can accommodate off-site company meetings and the hosting of life events.”

Offiicals said with COhatch, the city will have access to the company’s shared resources, branded and operational materials, website, digital tools and network of professionals.

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Officials said agreements with current Spark members will be honored.

COhatch currently has three locations in Ohio — “The Hardware Store” and “The Library” in Worthington; and “The Newsstand” in Delaware along with “The Hub” at Polaris Fashion Place. Three other locations are under construction — The Upper Arlington location “The Overlook;” Polaris Fashion Place “The Pub” that will open in early 2019 and “The Market” in Springfield which is set to open later this year.

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