For Meg Cooper, the Cincy entrepreneurial landscape was missing something: A place for working parents to bring their kids as they got things done.
With her mother and business partner Peggy Bustamante, Cooper set out to change that. The result? Gather Cincy, a coworking spot that has all the amenities of a typical coworking location with a unique twist: childcare for kiddos aged 3 months to school aged.
While Gather Cincy serves a practical need, it also serves a more intangible one through the community it fosters, one that allows working parents and other members to "feel supported and understood," Cooper said.
The journey to create Gather Cincy began with research, and lots of it. Cooper surveyed people within her immediate network to see what they wanted out of a new coworking space, and to gauge whether or not one was even necessary."
She found that she wasn't alone in her wish for a more kid-friendly coworking location.
"Feedback was overwhelming," Cooper said. "People were asking, 'Why hasn’t this existed before?'"
Confident that she was fulfilling a need, Cooper launched Gather Cincy last September via a pop-up coworking program in a church space in Madisonville. During that time, she and her team were looking for and finalizing the purchase of an East Walnut Hills space.
The process took Cooper about six months, but it was worth it. The building is a 120-year-old Victorian with lots of charm, and it made its official grand debut this June.
"We tried to make it a place where people can come and feel really comfortable while they’re working," Cooper said.
Instead of an industrial feel, Gather Cincy has homey areas for members to socialize or work, depending on their needs. It also boasts the typical amenities per membership levels, like coffee, drinks and other snacks, as well as a kitchen; locker rentals; printing services; community events and more.
And then, of course, there's the childcare facilities, which occupy the lower level of the building. It offers different rooms designated for children of certain ages, with toys and colorful decor.
Currently, the membership is mostly working parents, and while many are moms, Cooper said that Gather Cincy is for everyone.
"This is not a women’s only coworking space by any means," she said.
Growing that membership is paramount to Gather Cincy as it looks ahead, as well as scheduling more events and informational workshops on everything from social media for businesses to holiday boutiques.
There will also be opportunities for groups to rent out the space for their own programs.
"We want this to be a part of the community," Cooper said. "[The building is] available for that mission and that purpose."
