Jess Bommarito didn’t set out to start a coworking space. One day, she walked past a Win This Space sign, and something in her gut told her to apply. Her intuition said “ this is for you ,” but the doubts rushed in just as fast.

Was she crazy to even consider it?

Instead of ignoring the idea, she followed her curiosity and attended the upcoming open house. Maybe the space itself would spark inspiration for what her next business could be. She signed up for the email list and went home, uncertain but intrigued.

And then, the unexpected happened.

She received a follow-up email, but there was a mistake. Instead of blind-copying the candidates, every competitor’s email address was visible on the email. So naturally, Jess scoped out her competition. And so did everyone else.

Moments later, her phone rang. It was someone she had only met once before, also on the email list. He noticed Jess’ name, asked around for her number… and called with a proposition. He had checked out the space for his own business, but it was too big for his needs. “All I really need is a desk and a whiteboard,” he said. “What if other entrepreneurs need that too?”

That one phone call changed everything.

She got into a flow state writing her business plan, and somewhere in the process, a phrase appeared on the page: “a groundswell of activity, inspiration, and innovation brewing in the community, just waiting for a space.”

That was it. Groundswell Coworking was born.

Jess presented her vision, won the contest, and got the keys 2 weeks later. 

What followed was a whirlwind. The next five months were scrappy, resourceful, and exhilarating, building a community in found spaces like local retail stores, real estate offices, and coffee shops while working behind the scenes to transform the space she had just won. A long-forgotten hidden gem was about to become something alive, something electric.