What is make717?
make717, Inc., is an independent non-profit* business organized with the goal of bringing a makerspace to the Lancaster, PA, area.
A makerspace is a collaborative community workshop—think of it like a gym membership for the mind. You go to a makerspace to use the available equipment and on-site expertise to make, share, and learn. The make717 Innovation Center will have daily, monthly, and yearly membership opportunities as well as workshops for both beginner and advanced makers.
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What can I do to help?
First, you can donate to our Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign. You've come this far... just click the little button on the side of your screen and get awesome perks.
Secondly, and more practically:
- Think about ways that you might want to use the make717 Innovation Center.
- Let us know what equipment you would like to see at the makerspace.
- Ask your employer to get involved and donate equipment.
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Talk to your school and get your teachers to attend our workshops and bring the excitement of making to your school.
- Find us on the web on Facebook, Google+, Meetup, and Twitter. Join the discussion.
Where is the make717 Innovation Center?
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For the last 6 months, the make717 planning team has been busy filling the space with equipment. But there is a lot more equipment that needs to be purchased or donated in order to create a complete makerspace.
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Who is make717?
The make717 planning team is a group of makers with diverse backgrounds in manufacturing, engineering, higher education, business, and marketing with skills in 3D printing, electronic hardware, machining, art, and programming. But make717 is not about us... it's about YOU! The make717 planning team believes that everyone can find opportunity and enjoyment at a makerspace. More specifically, the make717 Innovation Center will target maker teens, future entrepreneurs, tinkerers, and retired makers.
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Why does Lancaster, PA, need a makerspace?
An already vibrant arts community, Lancaster currently has no place—apart from employers and educational institutions where young and old have access to shared resources, both equipment and human, and where they can explore their technical creativity, innovate and create. People either do not have the space, knowledge, or financial resources to nurture their creative ideas and to build knowledge outside of a work or educational environment. People need to interact and learn from others to develop skills and innovative ideas in their desired development areas. make717’s mission is to become the place with shared space and shared knowledge.
When will the make717 Innovation Center be open?
The make717 planning team has been working tirelessly to build a complete and exciting makerspace for the Lancaster, PA, community. We are anxious to celebrate this with a grand opening celebration scheduled for:
Friday, October 2nd, 2015, from 5pm to 8pm
Following the grand opening celebration, the planning team expects to open the make717 Innovation Center for regular hours during the week and extended hours on the weekend to allow members to use the tools and equipment to make, share, and learn.
Workshops and free open house nights will be scheduled throughout the fall, winter and spring.
This crowdfunding campaign is part of The Great Social Enterprise Pitch, a friendly competition facilitated by ASSETS and the Lancaster County Community Foundation. The Pitch consists of social enterprise ideas based in Central Pennsylvania. A Social Enterprise is a market-based, income-generating enterprise that aims to solve a social and/or environmental problem through its business activities. Social enterprises focus on a trip bottom line: people, planet, and profit. Upon completion of the Crowdfunding phase of the competition, 5 ideas will be chosen to move on to the Live Pitch, during which the contestants will present their ideas to a panel of judges, with winners receiving a package of cash and pro-bono prizes. In 2014, winners received nearly $40,000 in cash and pro-bono prizes.
Please visit www.lancasterpitch.com for more information. To access to the crowdfunding sites of all participating social enterprise ideas, click here: https://www.indiegogo.com/partners/SocialEnterprisePitch.
*make717, Inc has filed for 501c3 tax exempt status. Approval by the Internal Revenue Service is anticipated by December 2015. Donations to this campaign will not be tax deductible.