Providence incubator space opens

PROVIDENCE – A facility designed for small artist studios and startup companies plans to officially open its doors Saturday.

Coined "Anchor," the facility at 42 Rice St. in Providence contains a dozen offices between 150 and 400 square feet as well “artist bays” ranging in size form 150 to 250 square feet. Depending on their configuration, the building can host five or six artist spaces.

Asher Dunn and Matt Grigsby, who undertook the $175,000 renovation, said they hoped the facility attached to the Pearl Street Lofts would provide an affordable home for emerging companies and artists.

“We have created small spaces that currently aren’t available,” Grigsby said.

The duo plans to rent the offices for between $300 and $400 per month, including utilities and the use of common areas and office equipment. They say that the close quarters should also foster synergy between companies.

Grigsby has already set up his sustainable materials consulting company, Ecolect, at Anchor. In another part of the building, Dunn has moved in Keeseh Studios, a 6,000-square-foot woodshop with a focus on community education.

“We saw a lot of opportunity here to help ourselves and help others,” Dunn said.

The 13,000-square-foot facility once housed storage for the Providence School Department. Dunn and Grigsby became the master tenants in January.