Once again, the Hilltop Campus Village office has worked itself out of a home. Due to the success of its Studio Suites effort, it has relocated from 601 Brady Street Suite 301, where it had been since 2011.
The reason for its relocation is the success of the "Studio Suites" initiative, which began less than a year ago with a Main Street Iowa Business Initiatives Challenge Grant, and the vision of organization volunteers, including building owner Theodore "Ted" Priester.
"It was Ted`s drive that put this into play", said HCV Board President Robert Lee. "Our Economic Restructuring Work Group felt there was a need to provide office space for start ups, home-based businesses and business desiring a more efficient layout. Ted felt that the space we were occupying might suit that purpose, so we pitched a concept to Main Street Iowa, and they accepted our grant application proposal. We knew there was demand, but did not anticipate that it would succeed so well and so quickly." For his part, Ted was pleased to be a part of the process, and believes it could be a trend-setter. He said, "Perhaps the success of the studio suite project might encourage owners to take a similar approach to revitalize older office buildings in our community."
The program provides a $5,000 grant to reimburse the owner for 50% of the improvements made to the office space, which has been converted from a 3,300 sq. ft. single user space into a series of office suites featuring modest month-to-month leases and shared amenities.
DeAnn Soults, chair of the Economic Restructuring Work Group, applauds the efforts and the owner initiative. "So much is dependent on the commitment of the owner to the process, and Mr. Priester demonstrated his desire to move this forward, with investment in interior improvements and in marketing. We put information out on our website and issued a press release, but much of the success came from word of mouth. We also had some good leads and support from Marsha Rinetti and the Small Business Development Center."
There are now six businesses in the Studio Suites, where a year ago the HCV was the sole occupant. They are start up business Military Cost Cutters; Chiropractor Dr. Melissa Peters; Hypnotherapist Sylvia Kroeger; Massage on the Hill; Attorney Penny Souhrada; and most recently, Architect Charles Schwab. A seventh business is expected to join them within the next month. In addition, but unrelated to the Studio Suites initiative, Aflac insurance office has leased space adjacent to the Studio Suites.
"We had been consolidating and downsizing to accommodate the news of the new businesses", added Scott Tunnicliff, HCV Director, "but when one came forward seeking to lease my work station, we really felt the need to relocate. This is our third move in five years, and each time it has come due to reinvestment and redevelopment in the Hilltop Campus Village, which is after all our primary mission."
