Set to open in about a month, The Stream could set the standard for how work is done in small communities across the country. While most remote work sites are located in the heart of metropolitan areas, usually hip loft spaces where creative types can network and use a common office to save money, The Stream is different.

Newaygo is a tiny town best known for its world-class fly fishing that attracts enthusiests from across the Midwest, including many business-types from the Chicago area. It also is a city where more than half of its workforce works outside the area. Most of the city commutes to work in Grand Rapids or Muskegon and with its access to lakes and rivers, Newaygo also is a popular spot for second homes and cottages -- both ideal demographic points for a remote work site.

So town officials decided to hatch a plan: Build a remote worksite that will keep visitors and locals in the area (presumably so they will continue to spend their cash there). The town and its economic develop branch went to Haworth (commercial furniture manufacture) for help. Through a partnership between Newaygo, Muskegon Community College and Haworth, the $3 million, 26,000 square foot facility was built in the heart of the city. Haworth's role was to pull all the parties together and get them rallied into action. The furniture manufacture also supplied all the furniture for The Stream.

For a town the size of Newaygo and its 1,670 inhabitants, The Stream is a huge place. Andy Lofgren, executive director of the Newaygo County Economic Development Office, said The Stream is likely the largest single project ever undertaken in the city. He said the city wanted a spark so it could start participating in the "new economy" and diversify its economic base -- not easy for rural towns with few businesses. Still, the city wanted to tap into its growth.

Though still small, Newaygo County's population has grown 28.7 percent between 1990 and 2007. Newaygo County also has about 4,300 second homes on its many lakes and rivers. Many of the residents are "new economy" professionals that vacation in Newaygo for a portion of the year. Newaygo is trying to capitalize on the "micropolitan" movement, where smaller areas are growing in importance much larger than their size. Workers used to chose where they lived based on the availability of jobs. That's changing. More workers are now choosing where to live first, then looking for a job there. Newaygo wants to appeal to those workers. And the city wanted to give the community a first-class place to work.

They are about to have that with The Stream. The unique space has all the amenities of a high-tech professional building that allow its members to telecommute. A variety of memberships will be offered similar to a health club from a day pass to one that will give members access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Members will be able to use the 50 workstations and a variety of private offices, conference rooms and seating.

The town has nothing that comes close to The Stream. Those wanting to work remotely often gather at the city's Riverside Cafe, a coffee house and the only place in town with free wifi.

The Stream provides a much more professional atmosphere and business services not currently found in Newaygo, said Nick Wasmiller of Grand Rapids public relations firm Seyferth & Associates, the firm handling the public unveiling of The Stream. "People want to live where they want to live and get work done too," he said. "They will be able to do that in Newaygo with The Stream."

The Stream concept could be rolled out to rural areas around the country, said Mabel Casey, Haworth's vice president of global marketing and sales support. She said Haworth plans to study how the space is used, where people work and how people chose to work in The Stream. "Those are things that we'll be looking at over the next several years," she said. "This concept can be repeated all around the country."

The Stream also will be a hub for Haworth employees that live in Newaygo County, but commute to work in Holland. About 20 Haworth employees call the community home and they will be able to work some days in The Stream. Casey likely will be a customer as well since her family owns a vacation home in the area.

In addition to its life as a remote work center, The Stream also will host a number of community groups. A Michigan Works satellite office will operate there and The Stream also will be home to Muskegon Community College's medical billing and transcription certificate program.

The Stream will also offer a professional office space for individuals looking to start a small business. Currently, there is not an economic incubator of this type near Newaygo. The facility will provide these individuals and their employees with technology that they would not likely be able to afford on their own.

"This really goes beyond co-working," Wasmiller said. "It has all the advantages of the finest corporate offices in a place like Newaygo. This is a space that will be able to attract people to the community."

The first floor is for lease. Officials hope a complimentary retail operation like an office supply store will move in.

Lofgren said The Stream will help Newaygo become a place where people can live -- and work. "A lot of people have a home away from home in this community. This gives them an office away from the office," he said.

Visser Brothers Development and Paradigm Design are the construction and development partners on the project.