Leechburg Area Community Development Corp. continues area's growth with launch of 'coworking space'

As more people and companies experiment with remote work arrangements, the Leechburg Area Community Development Corporation (LACDC) wanted to provide a space that offers another option: an office-like environment not far from home.

The former First Commonwealth Bank building has been transformed into a coworking space with a variety of options. The space offers flex seating, personal offices, private rooms, a collaboration area and more.

The building will be open 24 hours a day.

“They can rent a desk to come here and work to be in an office environment, yet be working remote,” said Louis Phillips, president of LACDC.

The idea was prompted with a focus on those transitioning to work from home because of the pandemic. As the idea evolved, the organization realized the space could be open for anyone looking to have their own place to work with clients.

“The pandemic is either playing into this for us because people are now at home and people don’t want to commute, or it is going to go against us because people don’t want to go in an office with other people,” Phillips said.

Phillips said coworking spaces are more common in urban areas where entrepreneurs are renting a shared space. They are just now catching on in suburban and rural areas, he said. There are coworking spaces emerging in areas such as New Kensington and Kittanning.

“This space will have some of the same motivation,” he said. “Ours is a more community-asset mission.”

The coworking space is just one of the ways the organization is trying to boost Leechburg as a destination for tourism and other attractions.

Doreen Smeal, a contractor for the coworking space, said Leechburg is one of the few small towns in the area that have retained businesses and filled empty storefronts. The coworking space could encourage people to explore the growing town, whether it’s to shop or grab a bite to eat, she said.

“I think that is part of the reason Leechburg is still where it’s at,” she said.

The organization saw an opportunity for space after First Commonwealth closed in December 2020. The building was donated to the organization, which closed a deal on it in March.

An open house was held in November to introduce local businesses to the coworking space. Phillips said attendees were impressed.

“The response was really positive,” he said.

A couple of people will beta-test the space to give feedback on what can be improved to optimize the working experience for individuals, Phillips said.

An app called Leechburg Coworking Space, available for Apple and Android products, is the tool for renting spaces and gaining access to the building.

Information about pricing or renting at the coworking space is available at lacdc.com or 724-471-8485.