2021
Making new opportunities
Valley Parents – February 11, 2021
CLAREMONT — When the Claremont MakerSpace was looking for online instructors during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jacqueline Labate answered the call. The Topsham, Vt., resident offered to teach math classes to children ages 8-12. If it wasn’t for the pandemic and the necessity for remote learning, the distance would have made it impossible for her to do so.
With a background in high school math, mathematics consulting and running a nonprofit organization, Labate sought to teach the answer to the proverbial adolescent question, “When am I going to use this in real life?”…
2020
Center of Innovation in New Hampshire
Business Facilities Magazine – July 15, 2020
Innovation and a creative spirit are alive and well in this thriving New England mill town. Claremont, NH, nestled along the banks of the Connecticut and Sugar Rivers in the Connecticut River Valley between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is full of forward-thinking manufacturers and creative entrepreneurs. While the end-product has changed over the years, Claremont continues to be the center of creativity for professionals of all ages. The most recent example of this is the opening of the Claremont MakerSpace…
2019
Two Claremont organizations get grant money
Valley News – Friday, July 26, 2019
WEST LEBANON — Several agencies on the New Hampshire side of the Upper Valley are among the groups that will receive grants from the Northern Border Regional Commission, Granite State lawmakers announced on Friday.
A total of 14 recipients were awarded money from a $3.77 million pot from the NBRC, according to a news release.
Twin State Maker Space in Claremont was awarded $164,800 toward installing rooftop solar power atop its building. Savings on energy costs will go toward education and workforce development programming to help benefit the community, the release states…
NH receives $3M for economic development
New Hampshire Business Review – July 31, 2019
The Northern Border Regional Commission has awarded New Hampshire more than $3.7 million in federal grants for 14 projects geared toward community restoration and development.
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TwinState MakerSpaces: $164,800 to install a rooftop solar power generator at Claremont MakerSpace in Claremont. …
Sculptures of people, both abstract and real
Eagle Times – May 25, 2019
CLAREMONT — “FlatmenSquared” is a series of sculptures Ernest Montenegro has been working on. Artist-in-Residence at Claremont’s Makerspace for the months of April and May, Montenegro has been expanding one of his Flatmen pieces in a new material.
Kuster touches on workforce development
Eagle Times – April 16, 2019
CLAREMONT – Rep. Anne Kuster spent Monday in Claremont… At Red River Technology in Claremont, she spoke with senior Red River staff and the Claremont Makerspace about best practices and initiatives in workforce development…
Building knowledge for sustainable living in Claremont
Eagle Times – April 7, 2019
CLAREMONT — A series of lectures was held on Saturday at the Claremont Makerspace called “Sustainability and the art of living well.” The event was organized by artist Allison Zito, who like a lot of nervous partygoers, thought perhaps no one would show up. In fact, about 30 people of all ages turned up. Chairs from all over the makerspace had to be dragged into the large computer lab where the speakers gave their presentations….
Regional program is key to helping rural communities
Uplifting art at the Claremont Makerspace
CLAREMONT — “I’d rather have beauty than sadness,” said Alison Zito. Zito, an artist in residence at the Claremont Makerspace, has created “Sacred Thresholds” marrying two visual symbols: arches and snowflakes.
Her first arch is built over the wide brick entry leading into the Makerspace lobby. This arch emulates the niches built over the doorways in Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.
“There’s just something about the shape of them that really appealed to me,” she said. “Just inside them you often find a female entity called a divada, and I didn’t want to do a female entity, but I did want to do something to stand in it. Divadas are a symbol of energy and light, and a doorway to the infinite. …
Newport’s Cole-Tac is finding their niche (market)
Valley News – Feb 11, 2019
NEWPORT — What started as a hobby in the Colemans’ spare bedroom has grown into a business. Cole-Tac now occupies a warehouse on Unity Springs Road. They have four full-time employees, and they’re looking for more…
Out & About: Claremont MakerSpace hosts 3D printing club
Valley News – Feb 11, 2019
CLAREMONT — Auto parts. Furniture. Shoes. Prosthetic limbs. Aircraft components. These are just a few of the items manufactured with 3D printing, a process that creates three-dimensional objects by squirting out molten material, bit by bit.
Like many other technologies, 3D printing has become cheaper and more accessible over time. These days anyone can buy a good desktop 3D printer for less than $500, and — with the help of free software — design and print hundreds of 3D objects, such as planters, vases, kitchen gadgets, tools and phone cases….
Makers series: Christy Stocker, her bacon soap, and maple shelves
Eagle Times – Jan 16, 2019
CLAREMONT — One thing leads to another at the Claremont Makerspace — that’s the big idea. Although there are dozens of makerspaces in cities and towns in New England, the Claremont one was designed to bring creative people of all different persuasions together to inspire and help each other. …
2018
Claremont Makerspace: a center of innovation for creators
CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE: HEART OF INNOVATION
Business Facilities Magazine – August 27, 2018
Innovation and a creative spirit are alive and well in this thriving New England mill town. Claremont, New Hampshire, nestled along in the Connecticut River Valley between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is a bustling mill town full forward-thinking manufacturers and creative entrepreneurs. While the end-product has changed over the years, Claremont continues to be the center of creativity for professionals of all ages. The most recent example of this is the opening of the Claremont MakerSpace …
Big Crowd for MakerSpace Opening in Claremont
NHPR – July 9, 2018
The Claremont MakerSpace celebrated its grand opening Friday.
Sen. Maggie Hassan and Rep. Annie Kuster were in attendance for the ribbon cutting, accomplished by laser cutter, rather than a traditional set of shears.
The project, which received both federal and state funds, has been in the works for years. It’s an important keystone in efforts to revitalize the city, Kuster said.
“There’s a history in Claremont, and in this whole region, of making things,” she said. “And now that energy’s back and it’s very exciting.”
The MakerSpace is expansive, occupying an old brick building downtown. It offers tools, classes and studio space for woodworking, metalworking, and fiber and digital arts.
Opening ceremony for Makerspace draws a senator, a congresswoman, and some makers
Eagle Times – July 7, 2018
CLAREMONT – The Claremont Makerspace formally opened Friday with a new twist on ribbon-cutting.
“I’ve been at a ribbon cutting where they used a plasma cutter,” said Sen. Maggie Hassan. “This is the first one where they’ve used a laser.” …
Twin State MakerSpaces Opens in Claremont NH
WNTK – July 7, 2018
Claremont, NH – On Friday Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) joined Senator Maggie Hassan, Claremont city officials, and TwinState MakerSpaces leadership for the grand opening of the TwinState MakerSpace in Claremont, located at the Sawtooth Building…
Business courses encourage local economic development
Eagle Times – May 31, 2018
CLAREMONT — On Tuesday, May 29, six entrepreneurs in varying stages of planning and development took part in a free business-branding class given by the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) New Hampshire in the Claremont MakerSpace. This was the first class given in the MakerSpace’s newly-completed computer lab.
The group included crafters, a local photographer, a woman looking to open a health facility, an independent engineering contractor, and a Vermont tour guide. They traveled from within Claremont and from as far away as Deering, New Hampshire and Sturbridge, Vermont to take the course. …
How’s business in the Upper Valley?
New Hampshire Business Review – February 16, 2018
“We’re really looking forward to our makerspace, which is going to open shortly. It’s an opportunity to hit a lot of those issues. It’s 11,000 square feet, with CNC machines, welding machines, 3D printers, woodworking, and a lot of arts-centered stuff. There’s a lot of interest from local employers because they see this opportunity for people to actually experiment with some of these things, but there’s also an entrepreneurial network that’s going to be coming into that center as well to work with people as they test out an opportunity or a new business”. …
2017
Valley News – October 22, 2017
Claremont — Barely an hour into the open house on Saturday, more than a dozen visitors to the new Claremont MakerSpace had posted sticky-notes on a wall of the former Sawtooth Mill under a handwritten sign reading, “What will you make?”
“Guitars!” answered one prospective member of the cooperative aimed at hobbyists, entrepreneurs, artisans and do-it-yourselfers.
“Food truck,” another pledged, next to one reading “Learn to weld.”
“Quilts” and “Quilting!” read two more.
And these: “Birdhouses and such …,” “Keyboards (for computers),” “Smoker,” “Ceramics,” “Clay work,” “Classes on everything!”…
Claremont Hopeful MakerSpace Will Revive Struggling Downtown
Making a Movement
Eagle Times – August 15, 2017
CLAREMONT — When TwinState MakerSpaces President Steve Goldsmith placed his $18.42 bid for the Sawtooth Mill, he had new life in mind for downtown Claremont. Now, with work underway at the future site of the Claremont MakerSpace, the resurrection of the city’s maker movement seems more promising than ever.
With no ground to break in the former mill building at 46 Main St., the MakerSpace held a ground-”making” event on Monday on the rugged gravel covering the interior. City and state officials and local makers came out for event…
Claremont MakerSpace Picks Up the Pace
Valley News – August 13, 2017
Claremont — The next phase of the redevelopment of Claremont MakerSpace in the former Sawtooth mill building on Main Street has begun.
The building’s owner and developer, TwinState MakerSpaces of Lebanon, began work earlier this summer and is anticipating completing renovations before the end of the year.
Steven Goldsmith, president and co-founder of MakerSpaces with Jeremy Katz, explained on Friday the work that has been done and what the next phase will entail…
Claremont MakerSpace to Begin Sawtooth Renovations
Valley News – March 26, 2017
Claremont — Interior renovations to the Claremont MakerSpace property at 46 Main St. are expected to begin next month and be finished by late summer, one of the nonprofit’s co-founders said last week.
“We have our building permits and now we have to schedule construction,” said Jeremy Katz, who founded MakerSpace with Steve Goldsmith. “Hopefully we can begin in April.”
The building, commonly called the Sawtooth because of a roof design that allows in natural light, is roughly 11,000 square feet and two stories tall. There is no floor separating the stories, so the interior is open to the roof and the equipment and work studios will be on one floor….
2016
Windsor Museum To Feature Engineering Show
Valley News – October 15, 2016
Windsor, V.T. — From a miniature replica of a steam power plant to pinball machines to a robotic penguin, the American Precision Museum’s Model Engineering Show and Maker Space aims to give visitors a feel for technology spanning two centuries.
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The Family Maker Space, set up at the recreation center, will feature cardboard pinball machines to play with, design and decorate; 3D printing; hands-on solar power demonstrations, and other activities hosted by organizations including Twin State Makerspaces ….
“MakerSpace” coming to Claremont
WCAX – October 15, 2016
CLAREMONT, N.H. – There will soon be a new space to make stuff in Claremont New Hampshire.
Congresswoman Annie Kuster toured the “MakerSpace” building Friday which is an old manufacturing mill on Main Street from the early 1900’s. For a monthly fee community members will be able to rent space in the 10,000 square foot building to make anything from jewelry to 3D design…
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winState MakerSpaces receives $360K in tax credit
Eagle Times-Aug 17, 2016
CLAREMONT — TwinState MakerSpaces, a Lebanon-based nonprofit that will be constructing the Claremont MakerSpace at 46 Main St., was one of 17 New Hampshire nonprofit organizations to receive a portion of $5.325 million in tax credits from the state Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) on Tuesday, Aug. 16…
MakerSpace takes over old Claremont mill
TwinState MakerSpaces Buys Sawtooth Building
2015
MakerSpace comes to Claremont
Claremont — A $250,000 grant for TwinState MakerSpace Inc. will help jump start plans to renovate the Sawtooth building on Main Street.
Kuster Congratulates TwinState MakerSpace on Receiving Grant During Tour in Claremont
Claremont, NH – Yesterday afternoon, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) congratulated TwinState MakerSpace, Inc. on receiving a $250,000 Northern Border Regional Commission grant during her tour of the center in Claremont. Congresswoman Kuster worked to support the TwinState MakerSpace in Claremont as they applied for the funds. The grant will be usedin part to purchase and renovate the Sawtooth Building so that it can support science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematic (STEAM) endeavors in the community.
“It was wonderful to visit the MakerSpace here in Claremont today and congratulate the center on its recent $250,000 grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “The revitalization of the Sawtooth Building through this grant will continue to boost the economy and culture of the city and region. I was proud to support their Northern Border Regional Commission grant application. I congratulate the TwinState MakerSpace in Claremont on this grant and I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this project will have on tourism, the workforce, and the economy.”
The Northern Border Regional Commission was established in 2008 through the bipartisan Farm Bill to promote job creation and economic growth across the northern counties of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and New York. Congresswoman Kuster has fought in Congress to maintain funding levels for the Northern Border Regional Commission.
Rock and a Hard Place: The Claremont MakerSpace
stayworkplay NEW HAMPSHIRE
This is the fourth article in a series dealing with expanding arts and cultural offerings in Claremont, New Hampshire. We’re trying to unpack how a community can approach expanding these amenities to attract young people without putting pressure on existing residents.