Opinion: Does Lexington need a Makerspace?
{Contributed photo/Joel Leonard}
Lexington was once the home of Lexington Furniture and was known worldwide for producing top quality furniture. Sadly, production was exported to China along with other companies, thus displacing thousands of NC manufacturing jobs.
With the resurgence of NC manufacturing, the dire need for quality skilled workers, Lexington, according to some, needs a community workshop, also known as a Makerspace. A makerspace is like a gym or YMCA but as opposed to members lifting weights, makerspace members get access to tools, expensive equipment, training and mentorship by experts.
Makerspaces are breeding grounds to make ideas become reality, skills to be developed, youth to gain mentors and jobs, retirees to gain a new purpose by sharing their knowledge, and an incubator for new products and companies. All over the world, thousands of empty spaces are filled with equipment, classes and programs to grow skills and the entrepreneurial spirit. Currently, there are an estimated 5000 makerspaces in the US.. The truly special makerspaces are the community makerspaces led by grassroots efforts to enable folks to make, fix and create new ideas whether its with old technologies like welding, woodworking, sewing, pottery or with digital manufacturing using Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machines, 3d printing and laser engraving.
If Lexington really wants to grow and help more rise out of poverty, it needs to invest into setting up a Makerspace. Ideally, convert some of the current warehouses or empty spaces into a 5,000 to 10,000 square foot area for both industrial and office spaces. This will enable the local community to learn how to weld, sew, CNC, 3D print, laser engrave and get enough time and proficiency to take on new jobs with higher pay levels.
A Makerspace could be an economic engine to propel the Lexington community to higher levels of wages and prosperity. If you would like to visit area Makerspaces, go to Forge Greensboro Makerspace WS Mixxer in Winston Salem or Charlotte Makerspace. These spaces have become great hubs for economic development in their communities.
With Toyota EV Battery, Boom Supersonic, VinFast, Wolfspeed, Nucor Steel, and Eli Lilly arriving in the area, soon, more workers need to be developed. A community Makerspace in Lexington could quickly become a hub for talent development, skills to be nurtured, ideas to flourish, and new inventions and companies to emerge.
These spaces can also help communities respond to disasters. During the pandemic, Makerspaces nationwide produced PPE masks, gowns, face shields, and oxygen concentrators when normal supply chains broke down. If the Triad region had hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or other serious challenges, the Makerspace could be mobilized to respond and produce the needed items.
A makerspace enables folks to hone the skills they were introduced to at community colleges or school but haven’t been able to master. It also enables beginners to find new passions they can grow at community colleges or other institutions.
Personally, I have seen personally the economic impact makerspaces have on people, companies and communities all over the world. Lexington really needs to make room and grow your own Makerspace to grow your future! Go Lexington! Grow!!!
