Bennington’s Lightning Jar: You can work with this
A happy hub for students, entrepreneurs, professionals
Located in downtown historical Bennington, The Lightning Jar is more than a coworking space: It’s also a resource for those seeking to make their business dreams come true by focusing on connectivity.
Networking is essential to those trying to build a business. Since 2015, The Lightning Jar has been working with local and regional organizations and special interest groups to make those essential connections for people to get answers to fundamental questions and issues that so often trip up startups.
With historical roots to its North Street location, The Lightning Jar sits on the land that once bore the home of Henry W. Putnam—an amazing entrepreneur and the inventor of a metal-clasped mason jar he called “The Lightning Jar.” Continuing his entrepreneurial legacy, the space provides myriad activities (e.g. coworking, networking events, and trainings) and also collaborates often with community organizations to force what its chief entrepreneurial director, Joelle Greenland, AICP, calls “intentional collisions.”
“Such collisions are essential for early stage entrepreneurs with great ideas to connect with others who have diverse business backgrounds, skills, experiences and knowledge. It’s these connections which help people move forward in making their business dreams come true,” Greenland says.
Greenland, who has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Colorado, returned to Vermont after working as the community development and long range planning manager for Adams County, Colorado.
“Bennington and the surrounding areas are filled with many people who have ideas waiting to be nurtured and brought to life. They just need a place or connections to people and resources to support them on that journey,” Greenland says.
Whether it’s a business incubator for early stage startups or spearheading female senior and youth entrepreneurial networks, Greenland envisions The Lightning Jar as an entrepreneurial hub supporting a local, regional, and global economy.
The Lightning Jar’s success depends on collaborations. One of its biggest assets is its strong relationships and partnerships with VSECU credit union, Vermont Community Foundation, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET), Vermont Technology Council, Bennington County Regional Commission, Community College of Vermont (CCV), Bennington County Industrial Corporation, Bennington College, Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Bennington, and many others that have supported The Lightning Jar (and so much else in the local business community) throughout the years.
Its membership is diverse in knowledge, experience, and age. On any given day its space is filled with members who come from a wide range of backgrounds (e.g. computer science, marketing, and law) utilizing modern technology that makes remote work possible. Members can exchange ideas in a community rooted in love of the entrepreneurial journey. With 24/7 access, they gain a space of their own—and a conference room, the ability to make private calls, and a kitchen—and access to coworking spaces around the state. [Vermontpass.org]
The Lightning Jar welcomes new memberships. For more information, visit http://www.lightningjarvt.com.
