Help The WorcShop Re-open & rebuild

The WorcShop was founded in 2016 with a vision of building an innovative center for the industrial arts; a collaborative workspace, business incubator, education center and creative powerhouse. The video above, was created over a year ago & shows what our team has been striving towards.

What we do 

- MEMBERSHIPS: we offer our member access to a wide variety of tools & equipment

- CLASSES & individualized learning opportunities

- BUSINESS INCUBATION & entrepreneurial training

- OFFICE & WORKSPACE RENTAL

- PUBLIC ART PROJECTS : Produced @ The WorcShop
     Blackstone Valley Gateway Arch
     Jean McDonough Arts Center
     Stained glass house  & secret walls for PowWow Worcester
     Burning Man
     Firefly Arts Collective

- COMMUNITY BASED EVENTS: We have participated in, & hosted, dozens of events including: 
      WorcShop annual Mural party in conjunction with PowWow Worcester
     stART on the St
     Fitchburg Blacksmith & Renaissance Fest
     Spencer St pARTy
     Foo Fest Providence

- Committed to lowering hurdles to entry; creating more diverse & equitable access to the trades.


The WorcShop has been closed without income for 6 months due to permitting issues. We were operating in the black (in a smaller facility, with a higher monthly rent cost) and growing. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic our organization lost ~30% of our income due to the shut down of our educational program [which had generated >⅓ of 2020’s education revenue, in just the first 2 months of 2021]. Though we were able to remain open as an essential business, to serve the community & our members needs, we were unable to continue to support the rent obligations in our previous location. Luckily, we were able to negotiate a more favorable rental rate at the new location. 

Therefore in the summer of 2020 (after nearly a year of discussions with the town & property owners) we made the decision to expedite our move to the new property, before it was fully ready for us, in order to save money.  However, the costs of moving an 18,000 sqft shop (approx $30k) when already operating at a deficit, was formidable.  The town of Leicester had indicated we would be able to stay zoned manufacturing (with the option to apply for a special permit that would make the zoning much less restrictive) & that was our intent within the next 12-24 months. We moved during July- September. We applied for permits with the fire department in October prior to setting anything of that nature up & didn't hear anything back til early December. At that point the town informed us that continuing the manufacturing designation was no longer an option and we needed to apply for the special permit.  Within the week the fire & building department came for a surprise walkthrough & a few days later issued a cease and desist on all operations, citing life safety issues. At that point we had nearly 30% occupancy on rental spaces & lost several members, we reduced others payments to allow for storage access but no utilization of the facility. With no way to monetize the building we've been operating at a ~15k per month deficit. 

After a long & expensive (>$80k) permitting process, The WorcShop was granted a special permit from the town, allowing for the operation of a makerspace at the current location. However, in order to meet the terms of the permit many Safety & Accessibility upgrades still needed. These are are paramount to our ability to reopen in the short term & to serve the needs of our community in the long term.

Immediate needs to open $196,000

    Fire Alarm upgrades - 54k
     Add fire exit door - 4k
     Lighted exit signs - 9k
     Sprinkler upgrades - 40k
     Parking lot lighting - 54k
     Parking lot striping - 5k
     Handicap entrance - 30k

Remaining hurdles to code compliance  & functionality to be remedied $154,000

     Interior lighting upgrades - 51k 
     Fix code review issues - 38k
     Roof repairs - 65k

This fit-out project will take our new facility to the forefront of the innovation economy while bringing us to a point that meets or exceeds compliance with safety codes. Infrastructure build-out has been planned to increase efficiency, effectiveness and safety. This project will provide our users, and future users, a significantly increased capability to pursue their creativity artistically, or to develop and manufacture products in a clean, professional and presentable environment. In today’s increasingly competitive high technology market, new manufacturers need access to the advanced tools, equipment, and facilities necessary to produce those marketable products. The WorcShop specializes in providing industrial, advanced tooling and facilities to its members. The higher the quality of tools we provide our members, the better our members will be equipped to successfully compete in the marketplace. The value added to the WorcShop from this grant will be significantly magnified by how our members put it to use.

Our members and entrepreneurs certainly aren’t the only people who will value what the WorcShop provides.
Our affordable introductory level classes allow for adult education and exploration.
As we age, many people lack the opportunities that allow for fulfilling activities in their daily lives. The WorcShop makes pursuing a short term project, long term hobby or learning a new skill easy and affordable, at any age. 
Another exciting feature of the WorcShop is that it fosters intergenerational collaboration. We have witnessed interns excited to teach their parents new skills, parents join as members to work on projects alongside their progeny, and had children as young as 8 (under the direct supervision of their parents) take classes on basic blacksmithing and welding techniques. 
Our communities benefit from the outpouring of innovative projects and new skills, as we work to rebuild & revitalize this historic building. 
So many people, both those we know & many more we have yet to meet, will have their lives impacted for the better through The WorcShop's facilities & programs, but we need your help to get there!