What is A MAKER CITY?

SOME HISTORY

Born out of a growing partnership with Etsy, the global online marketplace, our Maker Council has developed a year-long series of programs, workshops and networking events designed to build an informed and collaborative City, one that fully embraces the maker movement. After hosting an inaugural Maker Summit attended by nearly 400, and having been designated the first Etsy Maker City in the United States, the Maker Council is looking to build on last year’s successes, cementing our region’s status as THE place to make in Tennessee.

MAY 2016 | ETSY MAKER CITY SUMMIT | Brooklyn, NY

Operating under the banner of MakeKnox (now The Maker City), a small team from Knoxville was invited to attend Etsy’s Inaugural Maker City Summit in Brooklyn, New York. The team included a local maker, retailer, and KEC staffer to represent the City. They joined 12 other cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, Little Rock and Memphis to discuss new ideas and best practices in revitalizing rural and urban spaces through creative entrepreneurship, public policy, redefining manufacturing, and maker spaces. They left knowing that they needed to host a similar event in Knoxville, bringing together micro-businesses, manufacturers, and city officials in the same room.

SEPT 19, 2016 | MAYOR’S SUMMIT ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP | Knoxville, TN

Mayor Rogero convened local and regional officials, civic leaders and entrepreneurs for a conversation on “Rethinking Economic Development” to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The Summit was sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation in association with the City of Knoxville and Knoxville Entrepreneur Center. The Kauffman Foundation is the world’s leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to the study and advancement of entrepreneurship.

Maker City Summit 2016

SEPT 19, 2016 | ETSY MAKER CITY SUMMIT | Knoxville, TN

The Knoxville Maker City Summit brought together makers, artists, developers, manufacturers, city officials, and entrepreneurs for a day of dialogue about how to create a stronger maker community. Alongside Etsy, whose industry leading online platform is driving creative entrepreneurship and manufacturing policies around the world, makers from throughout the region took part in a series of interactive panel discussions about maker spaces, growing a business and creative manufacturing. Sugarlands’ Brent Thompson emceed the entire Summit, facilitating discussions about what makes Knoxville the perfect “Maker City”, and what could make it even better. Attended by nearly 400 people, the Etsy Maker City Summit kicked off Innov865 Week, a week-long series of events that has become Knoxville’s signature gathering of entrepreneurs, creatives and investors.

MAYOR ROGERO & ETSY OFFICIALLY PROCLAIM KNOXVILLE AN ‘ETSY MAKER CITY’

Mayor's Maker Council

Joined by Etsy representatives and The Maker City team, Mayor Rogero officially proclaimed Knoxville an ‘Etsy Maker City’, the first such award by Etsy to a city in the US, and then announced the formation of Knoxville’s first-ever Mayor’s Maker Council. Etsy Maker Cities pair strong municipalities that value entrepreneurship, sustainability, and responsible manufacturing with the creative and innovative spirit of the Etsy community. The result? Empowered micro-businesses, strengthened local economies, and collective commitments to change how we buy, sell, and create goods. Etsy is an online marketplace where people around the world connect, both online and offline, to make, sell and buy unique goods. Through the Etsy Maker Cities program, Etsy champions a new model for economic prosperity, one that promotes sustainable production and empowers people to build creative businesses on their own terms.

FEEDBACK FROM SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS ON WHAT MAKES A MAKER CITY:

  • Maker-friendly zoning and public policies

  • Collaboration and shared resources between makers

  • Business resources and information for makers

  • Affordable, walkable, experimental and flexible spaces for makers

  • Public support and education promoting the value of locally made goods

Etsy Craft Entrepreneurship Program

 

“We believe that there are largely untapped opportunities for local governments to help members of the maker community — from sellers, to manufacturers, to retailers — start and grow their creative businesses. Maker Cities pairs strong municipalities that value entrepreneurship, sustainability, and responsible manufacturing with the creative and innovative spirit of the  community. 

The result? Empowered micro-businesses, strengthened local economies, and collective commitments to change how we buy, sell, and create goods.”

– drafted for the inaugural Etsy Maker Cities Summit

The Maker City does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnic or national origin, sex, disability, age status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities.