Exeter chamber readies co-working space

Target market is startups, commuters

The Greater Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce is opening a co-working space on the fourth floor of the Major Blake’s office building at 24 Front St. in downtown Exeter.

The space, above the chamber’s office, will offer reserved and shared desks, standup desks, work tables, traditional setups, a sharing library, lounge, café, equipped conference room and phone cubes for privacy.

Part- and full-time Loft membership also includes a chamber membership.

“The loft is really targeted at four different groups. We’re targeting startups, of course, we’re taking customers that are expanding, commuters and work-at-home people who’d like to get out of the house,” said the chamber’s president, Todd Deluca.

Twenty percent of commuters riding on the Amtrak Downeaster into Boston are Exeter residents, said Deluca, who noted the commute takes the same time as traveling from Newburyport, Mass., to Boston.

“[And] often folks working in Boston need to stay in town for family obligations,” said Deluca, explaining the potential appeal to Exeter residents who are Boston commuters.

Deluca says the chamber has already had customers interested before it announced the space availability.

An open house will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. May 3-4 for interested startups, businesses and individuals looking for a working space.