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The National Science Institute (NSI), previously known as The Geek Group, was a not-for-profit educational organization based in Grand Rapids, Michigan with over 25,000 members around the world. The NSI sought to provide opportunity for all people through programs designed to foster lifelong education, vocational access, and creativity in technology. The group opened to the public on January 1, 2014.

The organization's president and executive director chose to close the organization on December 31, 2018, following a sealed search warrant executed by the United States Department of Homeland Security and three other federal agencies.

History

The organization was started in 1996 at the Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan as a group of friends, experimenting with university surplus equipment. The group grew over several years, and several name changes into a small company, The Geek Group, leasing a building in Grand Rapids at 344 Ionia Ave SW. The Geek Group later moved to Kalamazoo and became a federally certified 501(c)(3) non-profit company. In early 2010 the Kalamazoo County Treasurer seized the organization's headquarters, which was then located in Kalamazoo Township, Michigan a suburb of Kalamazoo, MI after the organization refused to pay property taxes. The back taxes amounted to over $100,000 The organization appealed; however, the appeal was denied.

The organization moved back to Grand Rapids in December 2010 a 43,000-square-foot (4,000 m) facility situated on Leonard Street NW, dubbed "The Leonard Street Labs." On January 2, 2014, a fire partially destroyed the organization's High Voltage Lab, and deposited soot all over the lab. A grub screw on a Tesla coil rotary spark gap was not tight enough, allowing a tungsten electrode to move out of its socket and strike one of the stationary electrodes. This resulted in a chain reaction with molten tungsten being flung from the spark gap unit, which caused a nearby capacitor array to catch fire and subsequently melt. From preliminary analysis, Project Gemini (a 200,000 watt Tesla coil demonstration) looks to be the originating cause, and completely destroyed, and Project Thumper (a high impulse generator) was damaged. The fire was so hot it melted aluminum racks. Although no one had been hurt, the building was closed to the public once again for repairs.

Federal raid and aftermath

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On December 21, 2018 The National Science Institute's Laboratory at 902 Leonard Street NW was raided by Homeland Security, the IRS, and several other federal agencies. The raid was a result of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed Money Transmitting Business, operating an unlicensed Money Transmitting Business, money laundering, structuring, and attempting to collect a debt by means of extortion.

After the raid, the founders decided that they were going to shut down operations and The National Science Institute permanently ceased operations on December 31, 2018.

On January 5, 2019, Chris Boden, the founder of the organization, was described as saying that the raid took place "because he was commercially trading in cryptocurrency without the proper authorization", and that he believed he was facing prison. On Sunday January 6 he stated that on the advice of his lawyer he would make no further comment.

Sponsors

The organization was sponsored by many companies, the majority of them small businesses local to the organization, but also some larger companies such as Rustoleum. NSI supplemented this donation income by charging for some research and development services.

YouTube popularity

The organization ran a YouTube channel, serving as an extension of their digital education program. As of 2018, the channel had over 94,000 subscribers and 650 videos. In addition to technical tool training videos, the channel regularly produced several educational video series, including equipment autopsies and machine tutorials.

References

1. ^ "Geek Group Inc". GuideStar. 20 June 2018. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018.
2. "Mission Statement – The Geek Group". thegeekgroup.org. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
3. Weick, Rachel (2014-05-09). "Geek Group provides access to technology". Grand Rapids Business Journal. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
4. "GR tech group blames fed search fallout for shutdown". 24 Hour News 8. December 31, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
5. "Exempt Organizations". IRS. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
6. Inc., Midwest Communications. "Does Group Owe Taxes". AM 590 WKZO. Retrieved 2016-10-08. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
7. By (16 March 2010). "Tax-exempt Geek Group hit with huge tax bill". Hackaday. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
8. Radigan, Mary (17 January 2011). "Geek Group is renovating former West YMCA as new headquarters". MLive. Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
9. "Fire At The Geek Group". Hack A Day. January 3, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
10. "Fire damages Geek Group in Grand Rapids". WZZM13. January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
11. "Tech center, once the 'Geek Group,' shuts down for good after raid". mlive. 2018-12-31. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
12. "Geek Group founder discusses criminal investigation". WOODTV.com. 2019-01-06. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
13. "R/Grandrapids - the Portion of Chris Boden's statement on the Geek Group getting raided by Feds they won't allow on the news due to FCC rules".
14. Deiters, Barton (January 5–6, 2019). "Geek Group founder discusses criminal investigation". WoodTV. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
15. Dwyer, Dustin (1 February 2010). "Geek's Dream Lab Could Create Jobs in Michigan". NPR.
16. "thegeekgroup". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-06-20.

External links

• Official website (archived copy)
• The Geek Group's YouTube channel

• Educational organizations based in the United States
• Charities based in Michigan
• 1994 establishments in Michigan