COEUR d'ALENE - The Innovation Collective isn't quite finished remodeling its new co-work space in the basement of the Sherman Mall, but it already has 10 people using the space.

"It's still kind of coming together, but we have HVAC now. We have heat, water and new electrical work," said Nick Smoot, co-founder of the Innovation Collective. "It's a whole new world."

Smoot said he has 10 people working in the space now, and a list of 30 others who want to use the space. His goal is to finish the IC:Work space by Dec. 1.

"We even have one guy that does web design for the United Nations, who wants space," he said, adding the IC:Work space has one gigabyte of Internet for its tenants to use.

He is also working on a classroom setting in one corner of the space because he is getting a lot of inquiries from people who want to rent space for events.

As all of that comes together, Smoot said, the collective is also branching out a bit.

In fact, on Friday, Smoot met Idaho Department of Commerce Director Jeff Sayer to discuss technology efforts which are cropping up all over Idaho.

"Nick has been telling me about this place for a while now," Sayer said. "I've really been wanting to see this."

Sayer said hubs of technology are sprouting across the state, and he has been talking with Smoot about how to "pull it all together."

Smoot said he has also been talking with people in other parts of the country about how to expand the Innovation Collective in their communities.

He said Raniel Diaz has come aboard to run the Coeur d'Alene IC:Work space.

Diaz has been working in the telecom industry for years and currently works for a company which manufactures Android mobile phones for many national carriers.

"I really want to participate and help facilitate the growth of technology in Coeur d'Alene," Diaz said. "We want to figure out a way to grow jobs."

The newest thing locally, Smoot said, is the IC Leadership Network. He already has 15 people waiting for it.

The Leadership Network is a two-tiered private group which will provide greater opportunities for success in technology.

"We will hold private events for people who want to develop themselves further," Smoot said, explaining how the group will facilitate private meetings with successful entrepreneurs like it did with the founder of C-SPAN last week.

"Members of the Leadership Network will have opportunities to sit down and ask these guys anything," Smoot said, adding they have lined up a designer from BMW for their next private event.

Cost to join the Leadership Network is $100 a year for the lower-level membership, and $300 a year for the upper-level membership.

Members get access to private events, discounted work space and classes, and access to future trips the group plans on taking to Facebook and Google.

"We have a lot of talented people in Coeur d'Alene, and we wanted to find a way to invest in them more intensely," he said. "What's that saying? You don't want to throw pearls to pigs."