New London - Across from the U.S. Post Office on Masonic Street, an experiment in grassroots economic development is brewing - the idea of creating a Makerspace cooperative that would organize a broad range of hands-on talents around shared spaces, equipment and training.

It would be part of a nationwide movement intended to spur creative enterprises that is called Makerspace. Members of the yet-unnamed cooperative would get to share a tool library and could have access to a variety of machines that might be too costly for an artist or craftsperson to pay for individually. The cooperative, costing members perhaps as little as $50 a month, also would conduct workshops and engage in other forms of skill-sharing, possibly leading to a variety of business spinoffs, organizers said.

"This really is going to be a barn-raising effort," said Hannah Gant, a social entrepreneur who has been involved in organizing the coworking space on State Street as well as a variety of other projects under the umbrella organization Metamorphosis.

So far, only one Makerspace exists in Connecticut, according to an online listing at spaces.makerspace.com. CT Hackerspace in Watertown, the listing said, includes a variety of tools as well as computers, a metalworking area, woodworking area, silk screening and other equipment.

About a dozen people showed up to the organizational meeting for a New London Makerspace late last month. Among the group were an architect, an engineer, a retired teacher, a carpenter and a self-professed dabbler in a variety of creative pursuits.

John Curran of New London said he had been looking into creating his own Makerspace in the city - even going so far as to buy much of his own equipment - but decided to join forces with Gant's group when he heard about the effort because "it would be silly to compete."

The group met at the Red Tail Learning Center operated by Martina Bottinelli, who pays to use space next door at Writers Block Ink during certain hours of the day. The space is expected to become available later this year, she said, at which time it would be the perfect spot for a Makerspace - and would dovetail with her own plans to give students access to the space.

"It's just very obvious to me that there's a lot of people who want this space," Bottinelli said.

Gant said the group will likely need startup capital to get up and running, perhaps initially tapping local foundations. But the Makerspace is expected to be self-sustaining, she said, by charging monthly membership fees and perhaps earning income from workshops, classes and other sources.

Other possibilities mentioned at the meeting were the creation of a "fixers' cooperative" that might allow for repairs of various products (the Bike New London bicycle-repair shop could be involved), as well as the development of a recycling business in cooperation with the New London Homeless Hospitality Center that might allow artists and others to have access to a warehouse of used materials for projects.

No matter what the group decides, Gant said she hoped that the Makerspace would be "affordable and accessible to all who participate." In addition, she said she hopes that the group can reach out beyond New London, perhaps setting up pop-up Makerspaces in various towns once a month over the winter.

"There's a makers' movement that's happening across the world," said Roger Tremblay, an engineer and artist with a background in sonar design. "I think it would be smart for us to fall right in that movement."

Tremblay also mentioned that the state Department of Economic and Community Development is interested in integrating science and art and is talking about the idea of installing a three-dimensional printer in every library throughout Connecticut. He said the state might help fund a Makerspace.

"There's a huge interest at the state level for supporting Makerspace types of things," Tremblay said.

Old Lyme architect Randy Anway mentioned the possibility of developing a Makerspace road show to be brought to schools in the region.

"What we are doing is very attractive," Gant said. "There is support out there for us."

l.howard@theday.com

Twitter: @KingstonLeeHow

MORE INFO