Kamloops Makerspace looking for donations after costs jump

KAMLOOPS – Kamloops Makerspace is already looking to raise funds after its rent jumped dramatically.

The group of creative builders works out of 207 Victoria Ave. West. Co-founder and board member Aras Moghaddam says when they moved in, the group was given a significant discount by the building's owner in exchange for maintaining the heritage building.

That agreement has ended and rent is now almost double. Because the group is membership funded and doesn’t have a large budget, the increase has some members concerned.

“The discount we got is over, starting this month,” he says. “We’re supposed to pay around $2,100.”

Including utility bills, the group pays roughly $3,000 a month for the space. With 35 members paying either $100 or $50, depending on membership type, and no long-term commitments, it leaves the group potentially financially unstable.

The group has a plan though. In July they’re planning a series of fundraisers to tide them over for awhile, followed by a member recruitment campaign. Since the group is made up of creative builders, one of the fundraiser plans is to auction off some of their creations.

“One of the things we’re working on is a really cool chicken coop,” Moghaddam says. “We’ve designed one for a small backyard.”

He says after city council’s decision to allow urban hens on smaller properties, the group saw it as an opportunity.

Other fundraisers will include a barbecue and garage sale.

Moghaddam doesn’t blame the building’s owners for the groups financial situation, and the group knew rent would rise again.

“They have been very supportive of our organization and they gave us the opportunity to start,” he says.

The group incorporated as a non-profit in January 2015 and moved into the space in June 2015.

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