Steve Brady, founder of a local 501(c)(3) coworking and small-business assistance center, asked commissioners during public comment for personal donations to help the nonprofit meet a fundraising deadline and secure a $5,000 matching gift. Brady described the organization's eight years of work with microbusinesses and its role in outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brady said the organization operates as a visible coworking space and support hub for small firms, offering day passes and monthly memberships and providing targeted programming. "We are a 501(c)(3) not for profit ... Visibly, we're a coworking space," Brady said, and described services including master classes, direct outreach to struggling businesses during COVID, and support targeted to women- and minority-owned firms.

Brady asked for donations to reach a $5,000 threshold and noted a donor had pledged a match if the nonprofit reaches the target by noon the following day. He provided the organization's web address and said much of the center's programming is free to participants; he also described new AI-based tools and a "Polite Steve" phone line that provides automated assistance and transcripts for follow-up.

A commissioner thanked Brady "for what you've done for small businesses," and staff introduced Shana Barnes as the organization's new director of operations management; Barnes said she looks forward to growth and partnership. The public comment also included a description of how the center pivoted during COVID by calling hundreds of businesses to check on needs rather than relying on passive web-based requests for help.

Brady highlighted programming that assists creative entrepreneurs and artisanal producers with business skills, marketing and customer segmentation, and said the center works with regional partners including EQT for a creatives master class. He also noted the center's birthday and ongoing local fundraising timeline. No county funding request was made on the record; Brady sought private and business donations to meet the match.

The commissioners did not take formal action on the request during the meeting; commissioners and staff thanked Brady and noted the center's role in local small-business development.