Request for Proposals:
Business Plan Development for the Near North Makerspace

Deadline to Apply: April 28th, 2025
Project Timeline: 8 weeks from May – July 2025
Contract: $8,000 – $12,000, inclusive of all expenses

Overview:

We are seeking a consultant to develop a Business Plan for a new Makerspace in downtown North Bay, Ontario – to be launched in September 2025. The Makerspace will serve as a creative hub for artists, makers, and community members to collaborate, learn, and create.

Background:

The idea of a Near North Makerspace grew out of the needs of three artist-run collectives that had come to share a small space after the pandemic. Each collective hosts free arts workshops for distinct groups (e.g., youth, artists with lived experience of mental health) at different times. Although this schedule has worked well, it has left our equipment and shared space underutilized. Recognizing the potential benefits of a unified space, we began exploring the idea of a shared Makerspace open to a wider community. With a small grant received in Fall 2024, we have started turning this vision into a reality.

Our goal is to build an accessible, welcoming, and creative space where people can learn new skills, make things, and share their work with others.

What We’ve Already Done:

• Secured a 2,000 sq. ft. storefront in downtown North Bay
• Begun working with consultants to:
  • Undertake an environmental scan, to learn more about local artists’ and makers’ interests and needs through surveys and focus groups.
  • Strengthen our organizational capacity to collaborate and resolve conflict using circle-based, peer-supported processes
  • Develop an Accessibility guide and training for staff and volunteers
  • Create policies and processes for welcoming new artists and makers
  • Articulate our vision and values, define our governance model, and clarify roles and responsibilities

The Challenges We Face:

While the Makerspace is still new, the lead organizations — Near North Mobile Media Lab and Art Fix of Nipissing — have long-standing experience and community roots.

We know that revenue generating activities related to our core mandate will not be enough to pay our rent:

• Membership or pay-per-use access to equipment and workspaces
• Artist-led workshops and training
• Project grants

Additional revenue generating activities will be required. It is our hope that these would also serve the Makerspace mandate (including building a sense of community among groups of artists and makers).

• A gallery café and/or retail space
• Event hosting (music, readings, screenings)
• Space rentals

What We Need:

We’re seeking a consultant to help us evaluate these revenue-generating ideas, run the numbers, and figure out the right mix of offerings that can keep the Makerspace going long-term — covering core costs, supporting staff, and staying flexible enough to grow or adapt as community needs change.

This includes:

• Conduct community-informed market research — both analysis of relevant trends and financial models, and engagement with potential users to understand local needs, values, and barriers to access.
• Identifying viable revenue models aligned with our values and capacity
• Developing financial projections (3–5 years)
• Recommending an operational model, including staffing needs
• Assessing risks and proposing mitigation strategies

We’re open to hybrid or creative approaches — for example, a gallery café could be run in-house or in partnership with an independent operator. We want your help figuring out what makes the most sense.

The business plan you develop will guide the pilot phase of the Makerspace from September 2025 to December 2026.

Deliverables:

• Progress report at midpoint (focusing on market analysis)
• Business plan (including projections, staffing, operations, and risk analysis)
• Summary of key recommendations (presentation format preferred)

Who We’re Looking For:

• We want to work with someone who:
• Has experience developing business plans for nonprofits, co-ops, social enterprises, or makerspaces
• Understands the realities of working with small teams and creative organizations
• Values equity, inclusion, and accessibility in their process
• Can work collaboratively and communicate clearly

To Apply:

Please send the following to Sharon Switzer, Executive Director, Near North Mobile Media Lab [email protected] by April 28, 2025:

• A short proposal (max 3 pages) outlining your approach, timeline, and fee structure
• A CV or organizational bio
• Two examples of similar past work
• Contact information for two references

We welcome proposals from individuals, teams, or organizations, and we encourage applications from equity-deserving communities.