ORANGE — Brianna Drohen, Orange Innovation Center’s development director and LaunchSpace, Inc. co-founder, said during their session at the Massachusetts Economic Development Summit this May, the audience was so big chairs had to be put out during their presentation.
An audience of more than 150 people from communities and municipalities across the state listened while representatives from the innovation center and LaunchSpace spoke about their community innovation practices.
“This was more of a public sector event, and we are in the private sector, so we were coming at it with a different angle. A lot of the people were city and town planners in attendance, so they were interested in what private entities and nonprofits are doing, especially in this local and very grassroots setting, about how we are working without relying on state and federal funding,” said Drohen.
Held in Worcester, the event brought together economic development leaders from across Massachusetts. The innovation center and LaunchSpace were invited by Gov. Charlie Baker to speak, said Drohen.
Along with Drohen, LaunchSpace co-founder and Executive Director Alec MacLeod and OIC project manager and Sean O’Donnell, another LaunchSpace co-founder, spoke at the Summit.
Drohen said the organizations are focusing on creating links between the state, institutions and local communities.
“We are trying to connect all of the dots,” she said. “People are interested in how the OIC has been successful by working with the local government to make things happen.”
The Baker administration hosted the event, which focused on sharing new ideas to revitalize local communities. Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash and Worcester City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. gave speeches at the Summit.
The Orange Innovation Center hosts 48 small local businesses, Drohen said. LaunchSpace, a tenant and co-creative partner of the innovation center, plans to convert 10,000 square feet into a makerspace for local residents to learn new skills or start their own businesses. Moving forward Drohen said the center’s main goal is economic development and becoming sustainable in the long term.
The innovation center and LaunchSpace were also invited to give a six-minute presentation June 12 at the Western Massachusetts Developers Conference, which highlights regional assets and development opportunities.