Coworking Space For Non-Profits Focused On Literacy Opens In West Loop

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Organizations working to increase literacy in Chicago now have a new place to meet and work, reports WBBM's Cisco Cotto.

Small businesses have been using rent-by-the-hour office space for years to save money. Now, non-profits are getting into the game.

The Literacenter just opened at Lake and Desplaines and only organizations working literacy can rent space.

Stace Ratner is the co-founder and says the idea is to get groups working together.

"We've already seen collaborations between groups that hadn't worked together officially before," Ratner said. "We're seeing volunteer sharing, resource sharing, talking about doing shared projects together, applying for shared grants, everything we hoped it would be so far it is being."

Rent is below market because donors support it. There is plenty of common space to talk over meals and Opened Books just opened a used bookstore on the ground floor.