‘The Annex’ open for business

PALMER — A shared rental office space designed to function as an incubator for local business had its grand opening Friday afternoon amid wine, beer, burgers and hot dogs.

“The Annex” is the project of the Sustainable Design Group, a Palmer-based land planning and design firm, which is also headquartered in the same building at 247 S. Alaska Street.

About two dozen Palmer residents drifted from the homey central opening area to a large multimedia room, to small office rooms. The facility features a bathroom with a shower and a staffed mailroom for would-be entrepreneurs.

The space is meant to allow cross pollination among various businesses, said Eric Morey, the group’s principal land planner, in brief remarks after the yellow ribbon was cut.

“It’s a place for businesses to grow,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s to help Palmer, but it’s to help us. We’re not being greedy because we needed this as well. Obviously we rent some of our own space, and this is how we do business. It was only right for us to grow it for the rest of everyone else.”

Prices for temporary space at the facility range from a $15, one-day pass to $525 for an office with a window. Numerous businesses have already signed up to use the space, Morey said. The space could also serve as a gathering place for legislative and corporate interests, company officials have said. It could also serve as a platform for attracting Anchorage-based entrepreneurs.

The group had overcome adversity to see their dream through, Morey said.

“It was rocky at times, but I couldn’t have done it without these guys,” he said.