Turning an idea into a business is easier said than done. Tools for turning concepts into reality can be pricey and hard to find. Fine tuning and ironing out the details can be difficult without an extra set of eyes. Even just finding space to build and work can be tricky.

This is where the Powell MakerSpace comes into play, and we are excited to welcome it to the neighborhood.

Located just a short walk from downtown Powell is The Cottage, the future home of the Powell MakerSpace, where local aspiring entrepreneurs will have access to the tools and technology needed to get their ideas off the ground.

So why is this so exciting?

Because new ideas lead to new businesses, and that means new jobs. Considering the bleak projections for the future of the oil industry, now is the perfect time to start innovating to keep the local economy rolling.

Governmental agencies, Park County School District No. 1, as well as local donors and volunteers also see the value — and necessity — for this facility.

Earlier this year, the Powell Economic Partnership was awarded a $49,974 grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program to help purchase innovation equipment that will be leased to the Powell MakerSpace, a local nonprofit.

The grant was matched by a donation from Rick and Judith LaPlante through a gift to the PEP Foundation.

Those funds went toward a $15,000 CNC (computer numeric control) machine, a $3,000 CNC embroidery machine, a $2,175 3-D printer as well as a 3-D scanner, and computers with expensive software for programming and learning CAD (computer assisted drafting).

Having access to this kind of equipment and technology means prototypes can be created for a fraction of the traditional cost.

For instance, Powell High School sophomore Rhett Pimentel made a cell phone charger that generates power from heat. For those who enjoy long camping trips and using their phone for taking photos and videos of their adventures, this is a game-changer — all it takes to recharge your phone is to have a bonfire.

Ideas such as this are exactly what the MakerSpace is intended for, and we are excited to see what members will cook up — both literally and figuratively. 

The MakerSpace also has a commercial kitchen where aspiring chefs can get a start without having to buy a restaurant first. Although some may not be aware of it, a commercial kitchen is required before food can be prepared and sold as a business.

The facility also will play host to educational programs and serve as a gathering place for people with common interests and varying skill levels to get together and share ideas.

This is the big one.

Tinkering in the garage, puttering around the basement, hunching over a laptop — the creative process tends to be a pretty isolated endeavor. But bringing these innovative people together means sharing ideas, offering advice and connecting over shared interests.

Maybe there’s a young person in the area who has a great idea, but needs some input from a seasoned expert. Bringing them all together under one roof gives those ideas the fertile soil they need to grow.

The Powell MakerSpace also will have two volunteers from AmeriCorps VISTA on hand to help people get started.

But, as Powell Economic Partnership’s executive director Christine Bekes said, “the community makes the MakerSpace,” and we’re eager to see what the community makes of it after opening day next month.