GREENFIELD — The “movers and shakers” working on reviving Greenfield’s downtown are focused on a burgeoning creative economy they hope will include a “maker space” in the empty storefront on Main Street that once housed World Eye Bookshop.
“There is a real estate transaction in the works, and it should be completed within a couple of weeks,” Linda McInerney, artistic director of Eggtooth Productions and chairwoman of the Greenfield Cultural Council, said. “The person who is buying it is definitely on board for a maker space.”
A maker space is a place in which people with shared interests, including computing and technology, gather to work on projects and share ideas and equipment, which include 3D printers, laser cutters and other machinery.
“It’s exciting to see Greenfield becoming a hive of creative activity,” McInerney said. “Thanks to worker bees like Hawks and Reed and the Root Cellar bringing great music, theater and art, along with the increasing number of restaurants and bars offering great local food and drink in our downtown Crossroads Cultural District, we have become a hive of creative activity and there’s more on the way.”
If all goes well, the maker space will be called, “Hive,” McInerney said.
There will be a panel discussion about what is in store for Greenfield’s downtown on Thursday, June 27, 5:30 p.m. at the John Zon Community Center, 35 Pleasant St.
McInerney will sit on the panel with Rachael Katz, owner of The Greenfield Gallery and chair of the Crossroads Cultural District Committee, as well as creator of the recently unveiled bee sculpture that will soon be buzzing everywhere around town. Steve Goldsher, owner of Hawks and Reed, will also be on the panel.
The panel will dive into why Greenfield’s creative economy is growing and reveal some of the behind-the-scenes efforts that will not only bring money to build more facilities to draw talented people to the downtown, but keep Greenfield inclusive and affordable, McInerney said.
“In addition to $3.5 million that former Sen. Stanley Rosenberg earmarked to help restore the First National Bank building on Bank Row to become a flexible cultural assembly space, the state and federal governments recently named Greenfield an “Opportunity Zone,” which opens doors to more investments with a focus on equity and inclusion,” MJ Adams, the fourth panelist, said.
The former director of Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity and current director of economic and community development for Greenfield, Adams said she is committed to keeping Greenfield inclusive while it grows by providing opportunities for everyone.
“Greenfield has always had a rich creative sector,” Adams said. “We are now coming to understand and value the economic impact of these cultural activities.”
Katz said many struggling cities and towns have seen the creative economy lead the way to their revival.
“I am privileged to join so many talented and motivated people in that movement here in Greenfield,” Katz said.”As an essential part of our ecosystem and a model of community effort, the honeybee is the perfect symbol for the arts and culture wave happening here.”
McInerney said many people have expressed interest and want to be a part of the new retail world.
“It’s all about experiencing activities, watching something be made, as opposed to going into a shoe store, for instance,” she said. “We’re looking at an artistic coop model that will boost the downtown and provide creative vibrancy.”
McInerney said the group has been meeting, doing marketing research, calling people and figuring out what’s involved.
“We’ve been working on a business plan, budget, and we’ve been applying for grants,” she said. “If this all falls into place, it could be open within a year.”
McInerney said they have applied for a $25,000 matching grant, which means to accept the grant, the group will have to raise $25,000. She said it can be cash or in-kind donations.
“We’ve already received some in-kind gifts, but we’ll need more,” she said.
For more information or to donate, email McInerney at: lmciner@gmail.com