A company that has been in Jefferson since 2021 recently moved locations to allow for a new organization to step into their building.

Chris Deal is co-owner of 202 and 204 East State Street and that Gravitate Coworking owner Geoff Wood was contacted by Caring Hearts of West Central Iowa with the idea of being in their location at 202 East State Street, as that was exactly what the Carroll-based organization was needing. Deal says when he found out about the move with Caring Hearts, he knew there needed to be a location for Gravitate to remain in Jefferson.

“We’ve heard from people that’s been the final piece they needed to come to the community, and so it’s a great resource to have. And so, (I) worked with Geoff and he’s shifted over and so he’s operating out of the Odd Fellows building now, the formerly known as the Forge building.”

Deal describes another venture with another company that is working behind-the-scenes to be a permanent tenant for the Forge building, and with a familiar name with Linc Kroeger, who was the spearhead of bringing the original idea of the Forge to life before it was cut short by the layoffs from the parent organization of Accenture following the covid pandemic.

“Linc Kroeger, who is the visionary behind the original idea with this tech hub, he’s still very active in trying to create some opportunities there. And so, we’re tracking with him (and) if there’s something that potentially happens there, that’s where Gravitate really fits nicely with this idea that they can use the space in a pretty flexible manner. But also leave some of these other big potential opportunities that are still being worked on in the background, as possible.”    

Deal firmly believes that since Gravitate opened it has been utilized for a variety of people that should a new tenant occupy the former Forge building on a permanent basis, that Wood’s company would still be an important role to find a location within Jefferson to keep them in the community.