Makers Local 256

The organization has its genesis around the time Tech Shop in San Francisco opened and it was determined that something similar could be done locally without so much of the cost. Soon a wiki was formed where ideas and projects began to get committed to something more than memory. In late October 2006 the first meeting was held. This group of friends continued meeting nearly every weekend, working on projects and discussing new ideas. Much debate was given toward a name before finally settling on Makers Local 256. A name both reflecting who and where we are. In 2008, the question was raised of how much money everyone could pledge monthly for a year toward getting a physical space, a method we still use today. We moved into our first space of a humble 750sqft a few months later. During our first year we managed to incorporate as a 501(c)(3) non-profit and double membership beyond the original ten members. Due to this growth and discovering what the old space was lacking, a new space of 2,500sqft was located in April 2009. An even larger space was needed by May, 2011. A 4,000 sqft shop was found that was cheaper, had an insulated office and kitchen space (making for better winter and summer project work), and has since been the current location. Makers Local 256 now sports a membership of over forty makers and continues to grow.