The Coalition marks grand opening with free coworking week

The Coalition, a new coworking and community space, officially opened its doors this week, giving local entrepreneurs, freelancers and remote workers a place to connect and collaborate. 

Founded by Tim and Shontel Garcia, The Coalition began as a Facebook group and informal evening meet-ups before evolving into a physical co-working space. Tim Garcia said the idea for the business grew out of a lack of places for people to meet and share ideas. 

“When we first came up here there wasn’t really a hub for meeting people,” Garcia said. “This started as a way to bring like-minded people together, and it has grown into a space where people can work, network and build community.” 

The grand opening is being marked with a week of free coworking, running through Friday, Sept. 5, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can use the workspaces, try the Wi-Fi, enjoy coffee and espresso and see firsthand what the facility offers. The Coalition is also holding its monthly morning mixer on Sept. 9, where members and guests can gather for conversation, coffee and pastries. 

The building includes open seating, dedicated desks and private offices, along with meeting rooms, phone booths, a podcast studio and a creative space for projects such as photography, video and 3D printing. Members also have access to high-speed internet, printing services, coffee and secure entry to the building. 

Garcia said the space is designed not only for productivity but also for balance.  

“When you work at home, you’re always working,” he said. “Here you can separate work from home life, and that makes it easier to be present with your family.” 

While the idea of coworking is familiar in larger cities, Garcia said some residents are surprised to see such a facility in Bonners Ferry. Even after a soft opening more than a year ago, many people are only just discovering it, he said.  

“People have told us they didn’t even know this existed,” Garcia added. “Now that we are officially open, the next step is letting everyone know we are here.” 

He added that the inspiration for the project came from his own need. “This is what I needed myself,” Garcia said. “I know there are others who feel the same way about getting out of the house and working around other people.” 

The Coalition will host more events in the coming months, including evening gatherings and workshops on business topics such as marketing, social media and artificial intelligence. Garcia said guest speakers and local experts will be invited to share their knowledge, while casual events like cigar nights are also being considered for the future.  

For Garcia, the Coalition is about more than just providing desks and Wi-Fi. “There are a lot of creative and talented people here,” he said. “We want to provide a space that helps them thrive.”