Bergen-Lafayette Welcomes 1st Coworking Space, Empowering Local Entrepreneurs

The Grapevine — Jersey City’s first coworking facility on the southwest side — is now open to give local business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs in Jersey City a new place to work and expand their endeavors.

The facility, which is situated at 398 MLK Drive in Bergen-Lafayette, aims to unite the city’s entrepreneurial community by offering an inexpensive, contemporary workspace furnished with all of the tools needed to foster expansion and prosperity. It’s also located close to the light rail and has plenty of parking to make it accessible for Jersey City’s inhabitants and business owners.

“With this new small business incubator and coworking space, we are … opening doors for entrepreneurs and small business owners to expand their reach, access new opportunities and collaborate in ways that were not accessible before,” said Jersey City Mayor, Steven Fulop.

The purpose of The Grapevine is to help companies from different industries connect. In collaboration with neighborhood organizations, Jersey City’s Economic Development Corporation (JCEDC) will occupy the space and host a variety of seminars, classes, and networking events to provide business owners with essential skills like marketing, technology integration and money management.

Jennifer Moore, JCEDC’s director of business, said the name of the coworking space was based on information being circulated through person-to-person interactions as a means to exchange information.

“That is exactly what we want to provide our small business owners and entrepreneurs here,” she said. “To foster new connections and opportunities with this dynamic workspace and future workshops.”

The Grapevine provides customizable membership options to meet the needs of companies of all sizes and phases. It’s also comparable to other coworking spaces: Members may select between desk rentals; private offices; and “hot-desking,” which is first-come, first-served seating. Membership rates range from $150 to $600 per month.

Included with membership are access to facilities like a game room for unwinding and team-building; two conference rooms with all of the necessary equipment; a cutting-edge podcasting studio; a quiet room for concentrated work; a lounge area for casual get-togethers and collaboration; and a fully stocked kitchen with free coffee and tea.

For more information, visit JCEDC’s website.