Title
StartUpPHX Program
Description
This report provides the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee with an overview of Phoenix Public Library's re-brand of hive @ central, an entrepreneurial resource center, to become StartUpPHX.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
Launched in 2014, Phoenix Public Library's hive @ central, an entrepreneurial resource center housed on the second floor of Burton Barr Central Library (1221 N. Central Ave.), was developed in partnership with ASU Entrepreneurship & Innovation Group and City of Phoenix Economic Development. The purpose was to combine elements of a co-working space with expert library fact-finding services and resources. Since opening in 2014, hive @ central has offered more than 1,300 programs with more than 16,000 attendees.
hive @ central regularly offered programs such as an eight session series "Business Roadmap" (in both English and Spanish), “Business Law Series”, “IRS Financial and Tax Series”, “The ABCs of Starting a New Business”, “Nonprofit Navigator Series”, and more. Participants in hive @ central programs and networking services have access to co-working spaces with free Wi-Fi, computers for database research, English & Spanish reference and circulating book collection, and special events, business magazines & newspapers.
Transitioning hive @ central to StartUpPHX will better illustrate the purpose and services of the space and better align the entrepreneurial services and resources with City of Phoenix messaging, which frequently incorporates the use of PHX as an identifier of City of Phoenix services. Phoenix Public Library collaborates closely with the Community and Economic Development and Neighborhood Services departments, Greater Phoenix SCORE and the Arizona Department of Revenue in offering StartUpPHX services. Along with a re-branding effort, StartUpPHX will redesign key hive @ central programming to focus on key entrepreneurial audiences (the Business Roadmap program in English and Spanish will continue beginning in 2022 once a new vendor has been procured):
Creators - The bulk of StartUpPHX programs will center around this group, those small business that tend to occupy a physical space such as salons, restaurants, food trucks, etc.;
Side Hustlers - Individuals that are usually already employed and interested in launching a local business on the side;
Helpers - Individuals looking to start a non-profit;
Inventors - Individuals focused on an idea or product, and interested in building a business around it;
Artists - Individuals that are artists, actors, social media influencers, musicians, those with a personal brand or run a business in which the individual is the product; and
Hesitators - Individuals with a dream and need a nudge to take the first step.
In addition to providing robust programming for each identified audience, re-branding hive @ central to StartUpPHX will include an expansion of the entrepreneurial resources' physical space on the second floor of Burton Barr Central Library. Utilizing approved ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, StartUpPHX will add computers and increase designated study rooms and networking & programming space to allow for critical StartUpPHX partners to maintain an onsite presence.
Providing refreshed programming, resources and networking opportunities (virtual and in-person) to local business creators, re-branding hive @ central to StartUpPHX will officially launch throughout the month of November and into the beginning of 2022.
Financial Impact
There is no anticipated impact to the City General Fund.
Location
Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave.
Council District: 7
Online programming offered Citywide.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson and the Library Department.