The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Canada Opportunities (ACOA) and the City of St. John’s today unveiled the Johnson Innovation Station at the Railway Coastal Museum, welcoming Genesis Coworking as a new tenant of the historic facility. Genesis Coworking will occupy the top two floors of the building, and will be joined by the Railway Coastal Museum Board, which will maintain the museum on a seasonal basis on the first floor of the facility.
Owned and operated by Genesis, Memorial University’s incubator for high-growth technology companies, the Genesis Coworking space is a membership-based space with both open-concept and private office availability for individuals and small teams alike. Genesis Coworking aims to provide a thriving community space to entrepreneurs, freelancers, remote workers and others to help bridge the gap between formal and home offices.
The Provincial Government, through the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, is contributing $72,670 to the Genesis Coworking initiative, and the Government of Canada, through ACOA, is contributing $94,500 towards the project.
Support for these projects builds on the Provincial Government’s commitment to strengthen the province’s economic foundation by developing a thriving and prosperous startup ecosystem and accelerating growth and innovation for a strong diversified economy.
Quotes
“It’s full steam ahead for Genesis Coworking at the Johnson Innovation Station. In collaboration with many partners, the team at Genesis has been pivotal in supporting innovation and tech start-ups in our province. This robust space is another example of how Genesis is focused on supporting entrepreneurs and economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
“The tech industry in Newfoundland and Labrador is creative, innovative, and determined to grow even bigger. Genesis Coworking allows different companies to mix and mingle in the same space, where they can support, challenge and inspire one another. Challenge and inspiration build stronger companies, ready to take on the world and thrive here at home.”
Honourable Seamus O’Regan
Minister of Natural Resources and MP for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA
“We’re so excited to see the new Genesis Coworking space unveiled in the Johnson Innovation Station. Memorial University values its vibrant entrepreneurial community and welcomes the opportunity to support this initiative. We’re eager to see the positive economic, social and cultural impact of this space, and we congratulate all the partners who contributed to this achievement.”.”
Dr. Vianne Timmons
President, Memorial University of Newfoundland
“I am thrilled to announce this unique partnership to cultivate community, economic and entrepreneurial activity all within the context of this historic facility. In this space we will look to the future in the development of new business and technology but also celebrate milestones of the past, through the operation of a seasonal Newfoundland Railway Museum. I thank the provincial and federal governments for their financial support, and Memorial University for their ongoing commitment to innovation and to growing the technology industry here in St. John’s and our province.”
Danny Breen
Mayor, City of St. John’s
“Genesis Coworking’s new home is an exciting partnership with the City of St. John’s and the next chapter in the Genesis story. We want to give tech entrepreneurs and small businesses a collaborative space to work on their dreams, and this building is an inspiring place to make that happen. We are grateful to all the partners who have supported this opportunity and believe in the economic potential of a startup innovation hub.”
Colin Corcoran
Director of Finance & Administration, Genesis
“I appreciate the opportunity to work with the City on the continued operation of the Railway Coastal Museum. The interim Board has been working hard over the past few months to develop a business plan for the Museum. It is our expectation that the Museum will open in mid-June for the summer months and will continue to operate on a seasonal basis for the foreseeable future. The Museum, created by the late Paul Johnson, tells the important story of the Newfoundland Railway and our coastal services, commemorated also by Railway Museums across the Island. We look forward to sharing one of the most important heritage buildings in the City with the Genesis Centre as we celebrate and remember our past and they encourage future entrepreneurs.”
Ron Penney
Chair of the Railway Coastal Museum Board
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Media contacts
Eric Humber
Industry, Energy and Technology
709-729-2691
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
Paul McGrath
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
709-689-5731
paul.mcgrath@canada.ca
Kelly Maguire, Media Relations
City of St. John’s
709-576-8491
kmaguire@stjohns.ca
Annagray Campbell
Genesis
709-864-4721
acampbell@genesiscentre.ca
Ron Penney
Railway Museum Board
ronaldp@nl.rogers.com