Sprout Coworking has announced both an expansion of its flagship Providence location and the forthcoming debut of its Warren-based coworking property, Sprout East Bay.
The Warren spot is slated for an opening on the last week of February or the first week of March, said Sprout Community Engagement Manager Luis Barrios, and was the result of members’ interest in more flexible coworking locations.
“We had no idea that we were going to expand or open a new location,” he continued. “We had a lot of interest in the East Bay area [from members] who wanted to use our space but didn’t want to drive the half hour.”
While the expansion wasn't necessarily in the team's immediate plans, it's a reflection of Sprout's trajectory since its opening in 2015. “We’ve been growing steadily for the past two years, slowly and steadily,” Barrios said. “Things just fell into place.”
The location will have the same amenities as the Providence spot, like open desk space, private offices and more, and a waitlist for space is already open.
To celebrate the opening, the Sprout team will host a community party at the Warren space, including new and old members, as well as community representatives. “We just met with the owners and directors of Hope & Main,” Barrios said. “[We’re] looking to form some type of discount to Hope & Main members [and they will] play a role in our grand opening.”
Closing the deal on the East Bay location happened congruently with the Providence’s location’s expansion. “We’re essentially doubling in size,” Barrios said, adding that the project will conclude that last week of January. It will bring seven new private offices to the location, as well as a bigger hot desk area that will double as an event space, and a larger café area.
All these moves are natural offshoots of Sprout’s overarching purpose. “Our number one mission is, we want to provide the space and the ground for anyone who’s looking to grow their company to have an innovative environment to collaborate and network together, whether in Providence and now in East Bay.”
When they say "anyone," they mean it. Barrios added that the space currently attracts entrepreneurs, lawyers, freelancers, remote workers and more.
It’s for those members that Sprout continues its work. “Sprout is 100 percent self-funded; we don’t take any grants, we don’t have investors, we don’t have big corporations behind us," Barrios said. "The money that goes in is getting put into a new space and expansion, and making sure we have the best coworking space in Rhode Island."
“The real story is not necessarily Sprout, the real story is our members," he continued. "Our members are what makes us great, who bring innovation into Sprout and why we’re expanding.”
