HASTINGS, Neb. – A new business idea can spark in many different ways, and sometimes those ideas can from with a change of scenery. 

A brand new co-working and entrepreneurship space in Hastings is giving people from all backgrounds a place to formulate those unique ideas thanks to a local organization. 

"The idea is to make this a place where your energy can come alive, your dreams can come alive." said Central Community College Entrepreneurship Center Director Scott Snell.

The new 6,422 square foot hub has come alive after a complete overhaul to the Stein building, which was a former department store many years ago.

The Schnase 1906 District is giving anyone with a creative or entrepreneurial mindset or background a space to further their business, to get a business off the ground, or even to create content in a controlled environment, among several other possibilities.

"Between having an on-site Business Coach, to providing workshops and programming for anyone in the community, this space is designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Hastings." said Schnase 1906 District Board President Maggie Esch.

While this renovation only took eight months to go from bare bones to the finished product, talks to create a community space like this began almost eight years ago, according to Esch. 

The renovation project cost $2.5 million, and most of the funding was raised by donations from local and state businesses, plus through the annual Give Hastings Day Fundraiser. 

With the building now open, Esch has followed along the organization's development all the way through to the present.

"When we started thinking about what a space like this could be, we didn't even have a name for it," said Esch. "But we listened to our community, went and saw what other communities were doing, and we integrated everything that Hastings needed into this space."

Organization officials held their grand opening all day Tuesday, and now anyone can apply online to rent out one of 13 private work spaces on site for a six month lease.

The different space sizes include regular private offices, micro offices, co-working desks, and a content creation/podcasting studio.

The building also has a shared conference room with the Hastings Community Foundation, and other individual workplaces in a common shared space.

One unique factor about being a member is that those people can access their rented offices at any time day or night.

"You might have an inspiration in the middle of the night at two o'clock in the morning, and you want to draft it out on your computer, and you'll be able to get inside anytime, 24 hours a day," said Snell. "We encourage that, we want people to have a constant flow of activity through here, and we're excited to see that happening all hours of the day.

Snell is one of several individuals and organizations who are a part of the Schnase 1906 District even though they have a job working for another company.

But they say their main goal is to enable collaboration with the Hastings business community to help the city and the surrounding area grow.

"To have a facility like this in Hastings, Nebraska, this is much like what you would see in Chicago, Denver, or New York" said Snell. "To have this amenity here for people to use, to enjoy, and to grow in, it's pretty remarkable. I would hope would want to come here and be a part and share their ideas with other folks as well."

Officials with the Schnase 1906 District say they are working on creating weekly community events in their building, and are ready to help the future entrepreneurs and business leaders of Hastings succeed.