The government has prepared a blueprint for a lakeside co-working complex to serve a fast-growing industrial corridor. The initiative also aims to reduce the migration of skilled youth by creating opportunities for them closer to home through a start-up ecosystem.The SS Hub, estimated to cost Rs 10 crore, is part of the state’s Neighbourhood Work Space (NWS) policy, which aims to develop shared, professionally managed infrastructure to reduce setup costs and ensure reliable connectivity. Under the policy, the SS Hub plans to nurture a start-up and entrepreneurial ecosystem through a structured mix of financial subsidies, collaborative infrastructure, and market integration.According to the government’s NWS policy, many individual workers and small businesses face high costs to set up professional workspaces, including expenses for furniture, IT equipment, and internet connectivity. “Often, they lack access to basic office infrastructure like high-speed internet, dedicated desks, and meeting rooms. Without a shared, professional environment, opportunities for collaboration, networking, and skill development are also limited,” it says.The NWS policy aims to address these gaps.“To lower entry barriers, district youth and regional start-ups will receive free or nominal co-working access for their first three months,” a district official said.A. Shyam Prasad, collector of Sri Sathya Sai District, told ThePrint that in addition to Kia and 25 ancillary automobile units already in the area, six large government-led and private defence establishments are coming up in the district.Penukonda has already established itself as a growing logistics and manufacturing hub. Penukonda, the historic town that served as the secondary capital and strategic military stronghold of the Vijayanagara empire after the fall of Hampi, has been the South Korean automobile giant Kia Motors’ India manufacturing headquarters for a while now.Anchored by Kia, which set up its manufacturing plant in 2017, the area has not only drawn an ecosystem of specialised auto-component suppliers but also rapidly transformed the rugged, rocky terrain into an automobile township.“When we found that our students graduating from different technical courses were choosing to stay and find employment in these companies, we saw a need for creating a co-working space,” said Prasad.The six defence units, combined with Bharat Electronics Ltd’s upcoming facility in Palasamudram, are expected to create more than 25,000 jobs in the region. In addition, with three national highways connecting Bengaluru, Vijayawada and Chennai coming up, many infrastructure firms have expressed interest in developing the space. “So far, the Kia ecosystem requires its engineers and floor staff to work on its shop floor and assembly areas. But with defence industries and hospitality companies setting up shop, we see the need for enclosed spaces to work from,” said Nagakumar, the Zonal Head of the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corridor (APIIC). He added that the government expects many employees to travel daily from Bengaluru to Penukonda, as it is expected to take a little over an hour to drive from the Bengaluru airport to Palasamudram once the expressway is ready.