North Triangle News

The Loading Dock, a co-working and incubator space, is launching a campus in downtown Wake Forest.

“The town really was yearning for a premium, professional, and approachable coworking and shared workspace provider with ties across  Wake County,” Clark Rinehart, Loading Dock Raleigh's director, told WRAL TechWire for its Aug. 11 report. "When they first approached us, we wanted to make sure that we were the right fit for the town with what we do and how we think about entrepreneurship and small business — things that Wake Forest is particularly focused on. Loading Dock felt like we could be a great resource for the town as they grew into their live-work-play model.”

The city experienced a 232% population increase from 2000 through 2019, WRAL TechWire reported. More than half of Wake Forest residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 

Loading Dock's Wake Forest location will be housed in a revitalized warehouse space on South White Street. The $3-million project will result in a two-story co-working and business incubator space with a street-facing food vendor space and event space. It is expected to hold more than 100 companies, creating 150 new jobs in Wake Forest's Renaissance District.

The space is projected to add $182 million in value to Wake County and $103 million in added value to the Town of Wake Forest.

“This project means so much for downtown Wake Forest and the future of work in Wake Forest. It also sends a powerful message to the rest of the region about the progressive, innovative, wildly pro-business culture of our community,” Jason Cannon, president of the Wake Forest Business Industry Partnership, said to WRAL TechWire. “It’s a  proud testament to the power of partnerships, and Loading Dock – Wake  Forest will be a tremendous contribution to our flourishing  entrepreneurial ecosystem.”