Innovation in progress

COEUR d'ALENE - The Innovation Collective isn't quite finished remodeling its new co-work space in the basement of the Sherman Mall, but it already has 10 people using the space.

"It's still kind of coming together, but we have HVAC now. We have heat, water and new electrical work," said Nick Smoot, co-founder of the Innovation Collective. "It's a whole new world."

Smoot said he has 10 people working in the space now, and a list of 30 others who want to use the space. His goal is to finish the IC:Work space by Dec. 1.

"We even have one guy that does web design for the United Nations, who wants space," he said, adding the IC:Work space has one gigabyte of Internet for its tenants to use.

He is also working on a classroom setting in one corner of the space because he is getting a lot of inquiries from people who want to rent space for events.

As all of that comes together, Smoot said, the collective is also branching out a bit.

In fact, on Friday, Smoot met Idaho Department of Commerce Director Jeff Sayer to discuss technology efforts which are cropping up all over Idaho.

"Nick has been telling me about this place for a while now," Sayer said. "I've really been wanting to see this."

Sayer said hubs of technology are sprouting across the state, and he has been talking with Smoot about how to "pull it all together."

Smoot said he has also been talking with people in other parts of the country about how to expand the Innovation Collective in their communities.

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Innovation in progress