CAPITAL REGION, NY— Albany Barn, Inc.’s Electric City Barn, Tech Valley Center of Gravity, Saratoga Joinery, The Innovation Center at Saratoga, Inc., and Launchbox Flexible Warehouses are coming together to announce a Reciprocal Makerspace Membership Discount beginning April 1, 2026.

This new reciprocal discount on membership dues provides additional benefits and support for members across all participating organizations. It also encourages individuals to participate in multiple creative and entrepreneurial communities, extending and strengthening the Capital Region’s vibrant maker ecosystem.

Dan Falkenstrom, Operations Director at Tech Valley Center of Gravity started the conversation between the organizations, saying “The Capital Region has a fantastic network of resources for creatives and entrepreneurs. We’re all makerspaces that focus on specific needs, but none of us are a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead of wasting time and money creating redundant facilities, we saw this as a cost-effective way to expand that support network, and enhance organizational collaboration.”

The impact of makerspaces within communities across the Capital Region is significant. Albany Barn, Inc. Executive Director McCauley Cannizzo notes the natural overlap among artists throughout the region: “Albany Barn, Inc. serves over 200 artists and they are not secluded to one city or another. We operate three facilities—one in Albany and two in Schenectady—and we regularly see artists, makers, and creatives traveling between the spaces. Our co-working makerspace Electric City Barn in Schenectady brings in makers from all over the Capital Region and we’re excited to share this opportunity with them. We’re thrilled to be a part of these organizations working together to support the greater Capital Region of makers!”

Saratoga Joinery, a community woodworking shop, is also part of the initiative. “Every makerspace, whether you’re working with wood, fiber, metal, or electronics, is solving the same problem: making sure access to tools and skills isn’t gatekept by cost or circumstance. Saratoga Joinery exists to do that for woodworking specifically, and this partnership means we can do it together, across disciplines. Our members gain a broader making ecosystem and makers

across the region gain a front door into woodworking. That’s exactly the type of win this work is supposed to create,” said Tori Colarusso, Executive Director.

The collaboration also includes the newly opened Innovation Center at Saratoga, Inc. Founder Beth Moeller shared, “As the new kid on the makerspace block, we are thrilled to be open, growing, and able to bring this opportunity to our members. Each organization offers enough variety that by coming together we can all strengthen our offerings to our members and the community at large. Everyone wins..”

Launchbox is the first “co-warehousing” facility in Upstate NY. While it may not be a traditional makerspace, Launchbox supports the growth of startups from the region’s maker ecosystem by providing scalable, ready-to-work private warehouse suites as small as 150 square feet along with support spaces and amenities including loading docks, material handling equipment, photo studio, coworking cafe, meeting rooms, high-speed Internet and more. Pricing is all-inclusive and suites are available for terms as short as six months so businesses can adjust their space to their needs. Fully furnished private offices are also available in the building. Launchbox is accessible 24/7 and fully climate controlled for year-round comfort.

“Conventional warehouse leases generally require a multi-year commitment to larger blocks of space than needed, and the tenant is on the hook for all operating costs like utilities and maintenance,” said Matt Michelsen, Director of Operations at Launchbox. “Co-warehousing is a gamechanger for startups and small businesses because it combines the full functionality of warehousing with the flexibility, convenience and predictable overhead of coworking.”

The Reciprocal Makerspace Membership Discount includes 20% off at participating organizations, with Launchbox offering the special first-month-free promotion for Warehouse Suite and Private Office memberships. Specific membership types vary by organization. Interested individuals should contact participating organizations directly to learn more about eligibility and how to take advantage of the program.