ANCHOR To Be RI's Next Creative Incubator

ANCHOR To Be RI's Next Creative Incubator

When two creative entrepreneurs combine forces, it's no doubt that something good is bound to emerge.

Asher Dunn and Matt Grigsby are two names that are known in their respective furniture design and sustainable design communities for forward thinking and collaboration. Dunn is the founder of Keeseh Studios and Studio Dunn, a local woodworking education and furniture design studio; Grigsby is the founder of Ecolect, a sustainable materials library and ecological design consulting company. The two entrepreneurs have come together to provide a solution to the growing need for small spaces in the design, commercial arts, and architecture community in Providence.

Introducing ANCHOR

Dunn and Grigsby’s latest project is the renovation of 42 Rice Street, a revitalized 13,000 sf ft building on the West Side attached to the Pearl Street Lofts.  Within this development these entrepreneurs are jointly launching Providence’s newest incubator, aptly named ANCHOR for its mission to be a mainstay in the community. The RISD alums are working hand-in-hand to revitalize the warehouse at 42 Rice Street, which sat

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underutilized behind Firehouse 13. Formerly housing the School Department Warehouse and before that a hinge manufacturing company, the space used to be owned by Warren Buffet during Providence’s manufacturing boom. The two entrepreneurs took it over in January of this year and construction has been underway to breathe new life into the interior.  The new development, 42 Rice Street, consists of ANCHOR with its converted contemporary office spaces, and Keeseh Studio Community Woodshop.  The two businesses co-inhabit 42 Rice Street and share a common lounge, kitchenette, and gallery space. 

Doors are set to open to public with the highly anticipated public launch event on June 11, 2011 from 5-8pm. 

Small, affordable space to foster community

The business model for ANCHOR, Providences’ new incubator space is what sets it apart, says Grigsby. “We saw a real need to create small, affordable spaces that could foster a vibrant community of people looking to grow connections... ANCHOR allows entrepreneurs, designers and artists to do just that...  share resources and constantly be inspired.”

The visionaries behind ANCHOR aim to motivate entrepreneurs, artists and designers to stay in the community by offering rents highly competitive to the market.  A look at the numbers shows that ANCHOR does offer real, innovative and affordable solution to startups and solopreneurs. Desks start at $150 per month, and most of the 12 available units run approximately $300-$400 per month. All rents include the use of common areas, utilities, office equipment, and of course, access to talent and synergies in the space. As a side note, Dunn and Grigsby pointed out, “ANCHOR is pet friendly” for those who have quiet, trained animals.

As Providence sees more start-ups spring up, “ANCHOR will be a means to keep talent in the area and get the community engaged in collaboration and real projects... we see the space as a beehive of activity,” says Dunn. This will contribute to the core of Providence’s Creative Capital initiative to keep creative and local talent in the area.

For more information on ANCHOR and latest developments on Providence’s entrepreneurial and design community, visit www.anchor.cc.