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Lacey Makerspace asks city for $200,000 as membership, classes and workforce partnerships expand
Summary
The Lacey Makerspace told the City Council it has grown membership and programming substantially and is requesting an additional $200,000 from the city for 2026 to support operations and workforce development partnerships.
The Lacey Makerspace asked the Lacey City Council on Aug. 5 for an additional $200,000 in city support for 2026 after reporting sharp membership growth, increased class offerings and new workforce partnerships.
The Makerspace’s lead presenter, identified in the meeting as Michelle, told the council the facility had 317 active memberships — up from 182 when it last reported — and averages 408 member check-ins per month. “When we presented to you last year, we had 182 paying members. Today, we have 317 active memberships. That's a 74% increase,” Michelle said. She also said the group has offered more than 200 courses so far in 2025 and that volunteers have logged roughly 1,140 hours this year.
The request matters because the Makerspace positions itself as a local resource for small-business prototyping, workforce training and community programming at a moment when the city is preparing its 2026 budget. “This modest fee increase helps cover rising costs of materials and consumables, and our members have been supportive of the increase,” Michelle said, referring to a recently implemented $10 monthly dues increase.
The presentation included a financial update from Sean Moore, identified as director of the Center for Business and Innovation, who said the Makerspace had secured $117,374 in additional fundraising commitments and is pursuing pending grants. Moore described conservative projections for 2026 and said the Makerspace aims for sustainability but is asking the city for $200,000 to bridge near-term needs.
Workforce partners highlighted results at the Makerspace. Damien Majista, regional program manager for AJAC (a statewide manufacturing training nonprofit), described two recent Manufacturing Academy cohorts run at the space and said completers had a 64% employment rate; AJAC served 22 individuals in the two cohorts and 17 completed them. “Manufacturing academies are designed … to give them a 101 kind of a basic idea and the basic skills they need to walk into a manufacturing facility to get a job,” Majista said.
Speakers also described community projects: member John Zentzer, a woodworker and boat builder, told the council the Makerspace is hosting a Nisqually youth canoe program and providing tools and workspace for native artists.
Council members and the mayor praised the Makerspace’s volunteer program and community partnerships. Council discussion moved to the city’s budgeting process; no council vote on the $200,000 request was recorded at the Aug. 5 meeting, and the council indicated the request would be considered as part of upcoming 2026 budget deliberations.
The Makerspace said next steps include completing pending grant applications, continuing fundraising, expanding evening classes and collaborating with AJAC to host additional apprenticeship cohorts. The city will review the funding request as part of its regular budget process this fall.
