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Longmont Public Media and TinkerMill will be exploring a partnership in the coming months, which could create one of the largest makerspaces in the U.S.
Longmont Public Media, a nonprofit media makerspace devoted to the education, production, and distribution of local media that also records day to day local government meetings, gave an update on their operations to Longmont City Council on Tuesday.
Executive Director Sergio Angeles announced earlier this year that he would be leaving the nonprofit he helped found. He explained to the council that LPM’s board discussed several options for how to best move the organization forward with his departure.
They decided to look at a partnership with TinkerMill, another nonprofit makerspace in Longmont and the largest in Colorado.
“We think it’s quite simple,” Angeles said. “We’re both makerspaces. Makerspaces are a place for people to come and gather. Makerspaces have equipment. Makerspaces have people that want to use that equipment to create really incredible things. And makerspaces have people that teach other people how to create really incredible things.”
He said the two nonprofits plan to sign a memorandum of understanding to explore a merger in coming months, exploring a possible parent-subsidiary partnership. Ultimately, Erin Hoard, current executive director of TinkerMill, would be the executive director of both organizations.
Angeles said, as planned, this format would allow members to have access to both the makerspaces while bringing down administrative expenses and overhead costs for the operations.
He added that the merger would create the largest makerspace in the U.S. It allows a future opportunity to grow, as both LPM and TinkerMill have received requests about creating similar spaces in various cities.
Angeles’ last day will be at the end of June.
