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

Start in temporary location at the Gresham Ford site a soon a feasible (Continue search for appropriate space).
Send 1 FG-PDX staffer to run 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/possible.

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).