‘An easy way to help the community.’ Pro Deo one of many nonprofits using Bridge Space

When Elaine Metcalf needed a space for board members of the Pro Deo after-school youth program to meet, she was coming up short. The church where they usually met hosted many activities and needed the space during evening hours.

The nonprofit found a solution at Bridge Space, a downtown Lee’s Summit co-working space, which donated more than $60,000 in conference and other facility use to local non-profits in its first full year of business.

Ben Rao, the owner of Bridge Space, offered the free use of a conference room at the site.

The primary purpose of Bridge Space is to provide support for small businesses. The building is the former post office in downtown Lee’s Summit.

Rao spent 18 months renovating the space. It now includes 35 private offices available for rent, six meeting rooms and special event space available for rent. Bridge Space offers business coaching and a referral group to help with networking.

“It’s always a challenge for non-profits, when we’re looking for space,” Metcalf said.

As the new executive director of Pro Deo, Metcalf’s plan for rejuvenating the organization included adding members to its board. After going from seven to 11 members, the small conference room available to them at Lee’s Summit New Beginnings Church, where they normally used the youth room, did not work anymore.

“Our board of directors now meets monthly there. He (Rao) also opened his doors for fundraising events,” Metcalf said.

Pro Deo Youth Center raised about $1,500 during a Fourth Friday art event hosted at Bridge Space in August 2019. For that event, each of the about 30 youth served by Pro Deo created pieces of artwork, which were sold to raise money for the program.

Rao says in addition to Pro Deo, they offered about a half-dozen non-profits free use of their building for events and meetings in 2019.

“It’s fun to be able to help support the philanthropies. It’s a resource we have, and it’s easy way to help the community,” Rao said.

Most of those using Bridge Space are not start-ups but people with established businesses looking to grow. One of Rao’s goals is to give small businesses enough resources locally to keep them from moving out of the area as they expand. Nearly 100 businesses have moved to Bridge Space since its opening in September 2018.

“We want to keep them here in Lee’s Summit. We are keeping those dollars here in Eastern Jackson County,” Rao said.

Other non-profits using the space include Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra, which also has monthly board meetings at the space. C.A.S.A., Chilifest, Coldwater, Developing Potential, Downtown Lee’s Summit, the Eastland Giving Circle and the Lee’s Summit Jazz Orchestra also have held events in various areas of the co-work space. Rao does not charge non-profits for the use of the space.

Rao says the biggest challenge for Bridge Space is helping people understand the purpose of the space. He invites people to come and check out the building, which is filled with murals and other artwork.

“The community needs to understand this is a resource for businesses of all sizes,” Rao said.

This story was originally published February 17, 2020 at 2:13 PM.