New Building (PPS)

Project Basics

• Project Name: Move to a new building that we would own
• Project Description:

Purchase (or have donated!) a new home for FG and move into it. The building would be more suited to our current and projected structural needs.

Preliminary stages would include:

• • ascertaining our new building requirements (ft² of warehouse, ft² of office, location, parking, transit)
  • establishing a relationship with a realtor who can advise us board/C7 joint venture?
  • potentially contacting the city about getting help board/grantwriting?
  • gaining council and board support for move
  • making a plan for transition that would be least disruptive to our programs and community staff/space cadets?
  • grantwriting?

Once a building was found, we would need to

• • publicize the change as soon as possible inreach/outreach
  • modify the building to our requirements (accessability, networking, shelving) action
  • purge, pack, move everyone!

potential elements of a moving plan:

• • a big recycling purge
  • blowout sale?
  • work parties for painting/networking/infrastructure building
  • party party in the empty building!

• The Program is expected to do all three of these things

1. Administrative (expected to support other programs that generate income and/or meet program needs)

2. Meets program needs (expected to cost more money than it makes)

3. Income generating (expected to make money for Free Geek)

Moving to a new building would enable us to improve our production and storage systems. It would cost a bunch of money to purchase the building (and to move) but we'd be investing in a mortgage instead of paying rent. Ideally, we'd have more room for a income-generating programs (such as the Thrift Store, production, bulk storage, etc.).

• Why does Free Geek need this program?

If we truly believe in FG's sustainability then we should be in a building better suited to our short- and long-term needs, a place which can offer the room to expand our programs adequately and provide accommodations for all volunteers and donors.

Job Position Basics

• Would there be a dedicated staff position associated with this program? YES
• Position Title: N/A
• Job Description: N/A

Costs and potential costs

• What are the expected financial staffing costs of the program? (Include all costs to the organization such as salary, payroll taxes, and benefits.)

All staff would assist in the moving process.

Up front, staff hours are required for research into potential locations, liaison with realtors, fund raising efforts, etc. Maybe we'd even want a temporary project manager.

• What other costs are associated with the program? (Include costs of materials needed, etc.)

Other than the high cost of purchasing the building... likely, some transportation equipment would need to be rented.

There would probably also be some overlap of occupancy while the new building were being made ready, and lost income while a move was being made (depending on how the move was made.)

• A dedicated project manager could help make the move smooth and ensure efficient use of staff and volunteer time. That would be: full time, for two months?
  • How much time would existing staff need to put in? ______@______ hours
  • How time would existing volunteers need to put in? ______@______ hours

need to come up with estimates of how long it would take to pack, what we would shed, what order we could move operations in, and how long it would take.

• Once the program is up and running how many staff how many hours per week would it take?

n/a; theoretically, operations would continue as before after the transition.

Drawbacks

• Outline the intangible costs for the position and program:

These would involve the (staff) time costs of actually moving all of FG's prolific treasures, including going through all the stored stuff. This would lead to increased recycling which would necessitate more staff & volunteer coordination. The Thrift Store would be closed for a day or two, production would slow/stop, metal separating/recycling would slow/stop in the moving process. Essentially, FG would not be generating much income for a week (my guess).

• Are there any possible negative impacts on Free Geek's mission, and if so what?

none that I can think of

• How will this program affect other programs and staff positions currently in effect?

Individual staff responsibilities would potentially change slightly as we all accommodated to the new flow.

• How will this program affect other programs and staff positions being considered?

Subsequent income increases (via increased production & recycling efficiency, more Thrift Store space) could lead to more staffing opportunities

Benefits

• Would the program generate income? YES-ish, in the long term,
  • If yes, how much income would be expected once the program is up and running? I have no idea
  • If yes, how long would it take for the program to get to that point? probably 6 - 12 months

This depends on whether/how much support we can get from other sources, which in turn depends on efforts and luck of grantwriting

• How does the program support the mission of Free Geek?

It doesn't directly involve our mission, but rather by moving into our own building we are indirectly supporting the current programs at FG be more efficient and to leave room to expand our programs. If we get an appropriate space, it would directly support the well-being of staff and volunteers through more orderly and appropriate spaces.

Measuring Success

• How can the success of the program be measured?

Firstly, by owning a building. Secondly, by increasing income through better physical structure. Thirdly, through expansion of FG programs.

• For most income generating positions, the costs initially outweigh the benefits. If this is an income generating program, how long until it is expected to break even?: Hard to say.... when we pay off our mortgage?
• Outline a plan for implementing the program:

1. Scout out new buildings
2. Find foundation funding to purchase new building.
3. Purchase building.
4. Prepare building for use, bring up to code, etc.
5. Move in.
6. Free Geek-inate

Organizations that offer Monetary incentives for buildings

I don't know where this goes, so I'm putting this here Luiz 00:45, 18 July 2008 (UTC) Energy Trust of Oregon has money for energy efficient building improvements