Free Geek Gresham

Overview

The community of Gresham is interested in having a Free Geek computer reuse and recycling operation in their area. The thought for now is to run this as a branch of Free Geek Portland rather than starting a seperate non-profit.

Community Partners

• City of Gresham - Department of Environmental Services
• Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce
• Gresham Optimists Club
• Gresham Ford

Resources

These are offers that have been made, none accepted to date.

Short Term

• 7,000 SF temporary facility (defunct Suzuki dealership), 2 months free rent, then slidng scale (pay what we can) for up to one year - donated by Gresham Ford
• Office furniture - donated by the City of Gresham, desks, chairs and filing cabinets.
• Vehicle - 1990 Isuzu Trooper, 4 cylinder - donated by David Pool

Long Term

• Garbage fee rate increase through the City of Gresham, could result in $5,000 to $25,000 per year.
• DEQ Solid Waste and Recycling grant, approx. $50,000 available in Jan. 2007 (application due Sept '06).

Proposal Outline

Preliminary

• Create FG Gresham Community Council, start having regular meetings in Gresham.
• Contact local non-profits, seeking council participation.
• Search for appropriate space (ongoing).

After space is a acquired:

• Send 1 FG-PDX staffer to coordinate new location for approx. three months.
• Start allowing community members to volunteer, create community council.
• Start accepting donations on a limited basis.
• Start recycling operation ASAP.
• Hire additional staff as revenue increases.
• Replace FG-PDX staff with permanent FG-Gresham staff as needed.

Project Needs

• $5,000 - $6,000 in startup funds, enough to pay for utilites, insurance and one staff person for two months.
• $5,000 - $10,000 in follow up funds to expand staff and other income generating operations, begin paying rent.
• $10,000 in additional funds to make up operational loss until DEQ grant funds are available in the beginning of 2007.
• Vehicle for transportation of personnel and materials between FG-PDX and FG-Gresham.
• Forklift
• Shelving
• Furniture
• Construction materials

Organizational Structure Proposal

• FG-Gresham is a branch location of Free Geek.
• Free Geek board of directors has financial/legal oversight responsibility.
• FG-Gresham creates it's own community council, at least one FG board member should be on it.
• FG-Gresham staff will be hired by FG-PDX staff collective in the short term, and as soon as they are stable and have more than one employee, FG-Gresham will become a worker collective, responsible for the daily operations at FG-Gresham site.
• Payroll and Healthcare will be centralized at FG-PDX.
• FG-Gresham needs to be self-supporting in both operations and other needed fund raising, FG-PDX should incur as little direct cost as possible (hopefully next to zero).
• FG-PDX will provide as much indirect support as possible until the Gresham operation is capable of supporting itself. i.e. supplying the thriftstore, adoption boxes, hardware infrastructure, etc.

Presentations

• 02/22 - City of Gresham - DES
• 03/01 - Gresham Ford (at Gresham City Hall)
• 03/23 - Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce
• 04/05 - Gresham ESCAC (Environmental Services Community Advisory Committee).