Thursday, July 16, 2009

New space

No just the office space up top, in the loft which fits 3 desks. Why don't you stop by and take a tour when you have time. This is a space that I like because as Maria said last night, it is a cooperative space for artists and new businesses to start their businesses with low rent and a friendly environment. We need more cooperative spaces in the city to help new business owners get up and running without having to worry about a large rent payment every month. That's what I personally think I am Trenton should do with grant money they receive. Instead of giving out micro loans to a few individuals, they should use the money pool they receive to purchase a property to use as an incubator or Hub to help new businesses start, develop and grow and even have an aftercare program for the businesses that went through the incubator and moved on to their own bigger facility. So the property becomes self sustaining, income producing while at the same time helping to create more jobs for the participants and their employees, a new tax base for these new tax paying companies in the city and I am Trenton is now growing, while helping the community, so in the future any grant money they do receive is more like icing on the cake instead of their only means of survival, because their investments in the city are making I am Trenton self sustaining, income producing entities capable of growing on their own without having to participate in all of the governmental beaurocracy. I actually think this is the only way I am Trenton will make a profound and lasting imprint in this or any city. Be different then every other non profit that steps up with their grand idea's of how they are going to change the city. They always get bogged down in the sludge of government inefficiencies. In my opinion you should not look to exist by waiting or asking for the non profit welfare line from any administration whether local, county, state or federal. Getting a grant is a good and even maybe a necessary thing for the organization but, being self sufficient is the goal for any organization. We have all seen so many non profit's fold or become unproductive because they wait for the grant money to come. We do not want to be at the mercy of the government in anyway because if I Am Trenton becomes a government dependent, it will become ineffective as far as making a difference in the community, a real difference that is. Other organizations and government departments look sensational on paper, as far as all of their accomplishments and programs are concerned but in reality, the impact they have is nil. The most important part of the name I Am Trenton is the I which to me stands for ME, which means I must rely on I or ME to make the change, I must rely on I or ME to clean up my own backyard before I or ME can change anybody else. I must rely on I or ME to rely on I or ME to sustain whatever programs I or ME develop to help my community grow and prosper. There is no WE if the I or ME does not exist. Self sufficiency is the key so I gotta start with the I or ME.

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