A local group is looking for the community’s feedback regarding the possibility of a new makerspace near Columbus’s airpark campus.
The project’s guiding team, led by Bryan Rushton, has released an online survey seeking feedback on who would be interested in using the facility, how they would use it and the type of activities they would most like to engage in.
"Makerspace" is defined as a place where people can come together to create or invent things, either using traditional crafts or technology.
The team is looking to get as many responses as possible so that they can know what type of space would best suit local makers, Rushton said. In observing other facilities, it has been clear that each makerspace reflects the individual needs and interests of the community.
"Based on this feedback, we hope to gain a better idea of how we might translate the interest and grow the space into a self-funded entity once we get it up and running," he said. "We feel we’re making good progress so far, but this is definitely a critical next step."
The survey will be available until Feb. 3, said airport director Brian Payne. The airport has been involved in makerspace discussions, as two buildings at Columbus Municipal Airport are being eyed as a potential makerspace location once Cummins Inc.’s lease for these properties ends in June.
In the past, makers, as well as representatives from colleges on Columbus’s airpark campus, have formed a “guiding team" for the project, Payne said. This team is looking into ideas for what a Columbus makerspace could look like.
The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce has also been involved in makerspace discussions.
“It won’t be the chamber’s project,” said chamber president Cindy Frey in December. “… We will support the project, but we certainly see the potential for it to not only support innovation and entrepreneurship in our community, but also the education of the thousands of students who are on that campus.”
Through Velocities, the chamber’s partnership with the Mill Bloomington and Elevate Ventures, they are able to “manage resources … to drive the growth of innovative, high-potential companies.” The entrepreneur-in-residence for this partnership, Cy Megnin, is among those who have toured the buildings at the airpark.
As of December, Frey stressed that the various groups, representatives and individuals involved with makerspace discussions are in preliminary conversations rather than official deliberations.
She said that engineers from Toyota Material Handling USA and the Indiana Small Business Development Center have also been involved in informal talks. Ivy Tech Chancellor and “maker” Steven Combs has said in the past that the guiding team might include representation from Toyota.
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The makerspace survey can be accessed at forms.gle/FZmGaQj5jYA1avN37. It will be available until Feb. 3.
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