Communities Band Together for Work

Oct. 1, 2009 — -- Most weeks, I hear from hundreds of people who are struggling to get hired against the odds of a challenging economy. While I do whatever I can to help them, I must admit it was a nice change of pace to spend several days talking to people who've rebounded because of innovative programs in their communities designed to get them back on track. I bet you'll be inspired too.

Massachusetts-based A.J. Martini is a commercial building contractor hit hard by the economy, prompting layoffs earlier this year. The empty desks were depressing -- a daily visual reminder of the challenging economy.

So the company spread the word that it was making 18 desks in a bullpen area available to out of work architects and engineers. These professionals are called "guests" and they each pay $50 a month toward electricity and a cleaning service, which enables them to feel like they're contributing even in a small way.

Some amazing successes have come of this: Architects Dan Broggi, 49, and David Burton, 53, were laid off from a large Boston firm that cut the majority of its staff. They decided to start a business, but doing it in their respective homes was difficult and isolating. They grabbed the chance to take two desks -- and have since landed several architecture projects. They're able to spend the day with like-minded professionals who are going through the same things. They share advice and resources on everything from the financial and legal issues of forming a business to accessing conference rooms and equipment like large blueprint copy machines. All with no overhead.

They say historically the relationship between contractors and architects is filled with tension. Not here. A.J. Martini has referred work to them and vice versa. This is the perfect partnership between two professions that have suffered in the recession.