Tech Corner: BTAC Co-Working Space Construction Underway
Co-working spaces are already well established throughout the nation, and now we have an option in eastern Utah. The Business and Technical Assistance Center (BTAC) at 375 S. Carbon Ave. in Price has been working to develop a co-working space/homework hub for the area’s residents and visitors alike. Provided by Utah’s Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).
Co-working spaces are a product of the modern era, all that is needed is a wifi connection and a professional work space. Many people are working remotely due to recent restrictions related to COVID-19. Remote work and co-working are likely to become even more prevalent in the future as both people and organizations understand the benefits and ease of working remotely.
Michael Bryant, Manager of the BTAC said, “The location will include; privacy booths, a conference room, a large meeting room space/homework hub, and a networking lounge.” Michael stated, “The BTAC is an ideal location for our co-working space, since it is centrally located in downtown Price and it already has leasable office space for local businesses.”
The privacy booths are intended to give quick and easy access to private work space for a single person. There will be storage space lockers to rent adjacent to the privacy booths. Each of these booths will contain its own power and access to wifi with desk working space.
The conference room will be able to accommodate approximately 8-10 people and will be located near the privacy booths. The large meeting space has a room capacity of 60 occupants with an entrance fronting on Carbon Avenue and will double as a homework hub for local students to study and work together on projects. There are plans to add additional technology features such as; video conferencing, projectors, and desktop computers for the homework hub.
The networking lounge will be a relaxed open environment with comfortable seating and access to; wifi, power, and optional desk space. Future plans include a wifi enabled copy machine, potential beverage and snack machines, an online payment portal, and 24 hour building access.
Silicon Slopes East is a branch of Silicon Slopes, which is a Utah based organization designed to grow Utah’s tech presence. The BTAC’s upcoming co-working space is an excellent fit within the Silicon Slopes East network. Both of which will be housed in the BTAC. Silicon Slopes East events will be hosted in the networking lounge or large meeting room.
Co-working in eastern Utah is just one element of the economic shift that is taking place. Others include, manufacturing expansions, aviation education through USU Eastern, and fiber networking options to each home and business in the region. Eastern Utah is a great place for an active lifestyle that is also suitable to the working professional.
The technological infrastructure of the region is on par with, and surpasses that of much larger and urban areas. Remote work is the way of the future and eastern Utah is primed to embrace it.