Benefitspro.com recently published an interesting article on the workplace of the future, thanks to Michael Keene for passing on the link.  Coworking checks a lot of the boxes that come out of this study.  Check out the article here.

The Burlington Free Press reviews the state of coworking in Vermont, and the benefits of the coworking model to promoting entrepreneurial activity.  The Lightning Jar gets a shout-out in the article.  Read the full story here.

Vermont was ranked 5th in the Kauffman Foundation's 2015 index on business start-up activity, up from 12th place in 2014.  Read the story in vermontbiz.

WCAX paid a visit earlier this week to The Lightning Jar, and interviewed members of our project team.  There's a lot of buzz in Vermont about the newest coworking space opening soon in Bennington.  Read the full story here.

The June 9 Grand Opening Celebration of VSECU's new Bennington retail branch featured as one of its events a tour of The Lightning Jar and interviews with members of the project.  Check out the full story in the Bennington Banner here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
“The Lightning Jar” Coworking Space Developing in Downtown Bennington.
 
Visit the future home of coworking inside the new VSECU Bennington location Tuesday June 9th for a tour
9am-5pm
194 North Street, Bennington VT
 
Bennington, Vermont – June 7, 2015 – A group of business and community leaders in Bennington are developing Vermont’s newest coworking space. Named “The Lightning Jar”, the space is expected to begin operations by the end of summer 2015.  Located inside of the new VSECU branch in downtown Bennington, The Lightning Jar is planning to offer roughly 1,200 square feet of open concept office space, meeting rooms, and a shared break room, to serve entrepreneurs, innovators, knowledge workers, telecommuters, and remote workers. 
 
The Lightning Jar is partnering with VSECU, a not for profit banking alternative for all Vermonters offering a full range of affordable financial products and services to its member owners.  VSECU is collaborating with The Lightning Jar to create the coworking space within VSECU's Bennington retail branch that will forward its shared principles of membership participation, autonomy, independence, education, cooperation, and community sustainability.
 
“The Lightning Jar is an exciting new project designed to promote Bennington’s creative economy and foster collaboration, networking, and ultimately new business development,” stated Dimitri Garder, The Lightning Jar’s Interim Director and project lead.  “Coworking spaces situated in other Vermont towns and throughout the country have demonstrated great success in generating energy and interaction among knowledge workers leading to new business startups and innovation,” said Garder.  “VSECU is proud to be hosting and partnering with The Lightning Jar,” stated Rob Miller, CEO of VSECU.  “The vision and purpose of the coworking space is an ideal fit for VSECU’s principles of cooperation and community sustainability.”
 
The Lightning Jar will host tours of the soon-to-be coworking space on June 9th  from 9am to 5pm, as part of VSECU’s Grand Opening Celebration of the Bennington retail branch.  Members of The Lightning Jar will be available to speak about coworking, what it means for Bennington, and answer questions about the project and how it will impact the Bennington economy.  The event will take place at 194 North Street in Bennington.
 
The project’s name, “The Lightning Jar,” is based on the famous canning jar of the same name, which was invented by former Bennington resident, Henry Putnam in 1882. 
 
For more information, contact:
 
Dimitri Garder, Project Lead
194 North Street
PO Box 1524
Bennington, VT 05201  USA
Phone: 802.445.1011 x205
dimitri@lightningjarvt.com
www.lightningjarvt.com
 
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Vermont's newest coworking space, Excelerate Essex (E²), has just opened in Essex.  Check them out as an example of how coworking brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, and knowledge workers to share ideas and create new things.

Read the full story here at the Burlington Free Press: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/06/03/co-working-space-opens-essex/28429909/

The Town of Bennington has launched a second round of videos promoting Bennington's economic development and entrepreneurial happenings.  See the Vermont Business Magazine article here: http://vermontbiz.com/news/may/local-profile-videos-showcase-bennington’s-entrepreneurial-spirit and a link to the videos here: http://www.vermontbeginshere.com.  The videos feature members of The Lightning Jar project team and other community leaders.