Mayor Steven Fulop and Jersey City’s Economic Development Corporation (JCEDC) announced the launch of The Grapevine, a small business incubator and coworking space located in the City Hall Annex at 398 MLK Drive in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood. The new coworking space will offer opportunities for small business owners and local entrepreneurs to collaborate and flourish and in an affordable workspace.
The opening of The Grapevine and relocation of JCEDC offices to MLK Drive delivers on the mayor’s vision for a City Hall Annex in the heart of the community. It also brings much-needed investment into the Bergen-Lafayette and nearby Greenville neighborhoods. This move follows the recent opening of the Communipaw Library Branch which was also designed to be a public innovation hub.
“This latest extension of the City Hall Annex is a transformative addition for our Greenville and Bergen-Lafayette communities as we continue to make critical city services much more accessible to residents who need them most,” said Mayor Fulop. “With this new small business incubator and coworking space, we are taking our efforts a step further—opening doors for entrepreneurs and small business owners to expand their reach, access new opportunities, and collaborate in ways that were not accessible before.”
“The reason we called it The Grapevine is because the famous saying ‘I heard it through the grapevine’ is based on information being circulated through person-to-person interactions as a way to exchange information. That is exactly what we want to provide our small business owners and entrepreneurs here. To foster new connections and opportunities with this dynamic workspace and future workshops,” said Jennifer Moore, JCEDC’s Director of Business.
Located steps away from the MLK Drive Light Rail station as well as plenty of parking, The Grapevine will offer flexible memberships to accommodate businesses of all sizes. Members can rent desks, private offices, or first-come, first-served seating. Pricing ranges from $150-$600 per month and includes access to a game room, two conference rooms, podcasting studio, quiet room, lounge area, fully-stocked kitchen (with coffee and tea included) and on-site security. In addition JCEDC will team up with community organizations for training workshops, seminars, and networking events. These offerings will focus on essential skills for small businesses, including marketing, financial management, and technology integration.
Membership applications and additional information can be found on the JCEDC website.
