SOCO, Columbia’s Platform and Community for Creators, Doubles Down on BullStreet Neighborhood
Columbia, S.C. (March 22, 2017) – SOCO – a homegrown platform and community for creators, entrepreneurs, freelancers and independent workers – announces plans to expand its presence within the BullStreet Technology Village in the BullStreet neighborhood.
In summer 2017, SOCO will take over the entire 4,200 square feet of space at the historic Bakery at BullStreet building, expanding the footprint it established in August 2016 upon opening its second location in S.C.’s first urban gigabit community. In addition to providing more space for coworking and events, the expansion will also allow for private meeting space and a limited number of private offices. As one of the first places in Columbia to offer gigabit internet from Spirit Communications, SOCO will continue to provide a number of compelling amenities through the growing “SOCO communities” platform.
“We have seen really incredible growth since opening our second location at BullStreet, and we’re excited to continue to expand into our new digs,” states Greg Hilton, co-founder and managing partner for SOCO. “Our community members absolutely love the BullStreet experience: historic, emerging, gritty and full of opportunity. Our Vista and BullStreet locations are just the tip of the iceberg in our vision to build a network of interconnected innovation spaces powered by community, to allow creators of all backgrounds to do the work they love every single day.”
One of the SOCO community’s fastest growing member companies, Krumware, will be the first to move into one of the new private offices at The Bakery. Krumware offers software products and services which enable enterprises and creators to build successful solutions which leverage the next generation of progressive web applications. Krumware was launched in 2016 by Colin Griffin and specializes in progressive web applications software and solutions.
“We’ve had an incredible start to our company, and growth has been great,” says Griffin. “Finding the best talent from the University of South Carolina and being a part of the SOCO community has allowed us to focus on building great things while surrounded by incredibly talented people at the top of their game. It is an easy decision to stay and grow in the heart of Columbia’s emerging tech community.”
SOCO’s announcement comes on the heels of several high profile announcements around the BullStreet neighborhood, including Tim Tebow’s move to join the Columbia Fireflies Minor League Baseball team in its second season at Spirit Communications park; renovations on the historic Ensor Building; Downtown Church’s plans to renovate and move into the Central Energy Facility; and the expansion and relocation of TCube Solutions, an insurance technology software company with an estimated $1.7 million investment and hundreds of new jobs anticipated at the First Base Building, adjacent to the ballpark.
About SOCO:
Founded in 2014, SOCO is a community of creators that have come together to do more, build more and be more. Our mission is simple: fundamentally change the way people work, connect and realize their full potential through community. We do this by providing compelling spaces where our people can work and work together; hosting incredible events and activities to help people connect; and offering a range of learning opportunities through which creatives can hone their skills and grow their craft.
www.soco-work.com @socowork
About Krumware:
Krumware is a Columbia, S.C., computer software company which specializes in building tools for internet application developers. Krumware’s unique offerings help enterprises design and build successful web applications, while providing education and tools to their developers. With continued focus on the future, Krumware strives to be a guiding light in the ever-changing world of web technologies.
http://www.krum.io/ @krumware
About The BullStreet Neighborhood:
Located within blocks of Columbia, S.C.’s vibrant downtown neighborhoods, the BullStreet district is a 181-acre, mixed-use redevelopment of the former South Carolina State Hospital campus, set for completion on a 20-year timeline with an anticipated $1.2 billion annual economic impact. Master developer Hughes Development Corporation of Greenville, S.C., is using a new urbanist, form-based code, working closely with other developers who possess deep domain expertise to create a city-within-a-city, filled with spaces that maintain the integrity of the historic district; mix commercial and residential uses; create a walkable and bicycle-friendly place; provide parks and open space; maximize economic impact and increase the City’s tax base; and connect to the Midlands community. S.C.’s first urban gigabit community, BullStreet is home to Spirit Communications Park (awarded 2016 Ballpark of the Year by BallPark Digest), the First Base Building office/retail complex, the Ensor Building at Bullstreet, the Central Energy Facility; the Parker Annex office building and the new Bakery at BullStreet building in the growing BullStreet Technology Village. BullStreet contains 125,000+ square feet of commercial/office and retail space and is zoned for up to 3.3 million square feet of commercial use and 3,553 residential units. For more information, visit http://www.bullstreetsc.com.
