diff --git a/bin/manifold b/bin/manifold
index 9a6193e..96a884d 100755
--- a/bin/manifold
+++ b/bin/manifold
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env ruby
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
-lib_path = File.expand_path("../lib", Dir.pwd)
-$LOAD_PATH.unshift(lib_path) unless $LOAD_PATH.include?(lib_path)
+lib_path = File.expand_path("../lib", __dir__)
+puts lib_path
+$LOAD_PATH.unshift lib_path
 
-require "manifold/cli"
+require "manifold"
 
 Manifold::CLI.start(ARGV)
diff --git a/lib/manifold.rb b/lib/manifold.rb
index f1dcd62..33598e3 100644
--- a/lib/manifold.rb
+++ b/lib/manifold.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 require "pathname"
 require "thor"
 require "yaml"
+require "logger"
 
 Dir[File.join(__dir__, "manifold", "**", "*.rb")].sort.each do |file|
   require file
diff --git a/lib/manifold/cli.rb b/lib/manifold/cli.rb
index 5eaed4d..2cd572d 100644
--- a/lib/manifold/cli.rb
+++ b/lib/manifold/cli.rb
@@ -4,21 +4,22 @@ module Manifold
   # CLI provides command line interface functionality
   # for creating and managing umbrella projects for data management.
   class CLI < Thor
-    attr_accessor :logger, :bq_service
+    attr_accessor :logger, :bq_service, :project
 
-    def initialize(*args, logger: Logger.new($stdout))
+    def initialize(*args, logger: Logger.new($stdout),
+                   project: Manifold::API::Project.new(config: DEFAULT_PROJECT_CONFIG))
       super(*args)
 
+      self.project = project
+      self.bq_service = Services::BigQueryService.new(logger)
       self.logger = logger
       logger.level = Logger::INFO
-
-      self.bq_service = Services::BigQueryService.new(logger)
     end
 
-    desc "init NAME", "Generate a new umbrella project for data management"
-    def init(name)
-      Manifold::API::Project.create(name)
-      logger.info "Created umbrella project '#{name}' with projects and vectors directories."
+    desc "init PROJECT_NAME", "Initializes a new project within the current directory"
+    def init
+      project.create
+      logger.info "Created new project manifold in #{project.directory}."
     end
 
     desc "vectors SUBCOMMAND ...ARGS", "Manage vectors"
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ def initialize(*args, logger: Logger.new($stdout))
       end
 
       desc "add VECTOR_NAME", "Add a new vector configuration"
-      def add(name, project: API::Project.new(File.basename(Dir.getwd)))
+      def add(name)
         vector = API::Vector.new(name, project: project)
         vector.add
         logger.info "Created vector configuration for '#{name}'."
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ def add(name, project: API::Project.new(File.basename(Dir.getwd)))
     }
 
     desc "add WORKSPACE_NAME", "Add a new workspace to a project"
-    def add(name, project: API::Project.new(File.basename(Dir.getwd)))
+    def add(name)
       workspace = API::Workspace.new(name, project: project)
       workspace.add
       logger.info "Added workspace '#{name}' with tables and routines directories."
diff --git a/lib/manifold/project/project.rb b/lib/manifold/project/project.rb
index abc27ea..36b3807 100644
--- a/lib/manifold/project/project.rb
+++ b/lib/manifold/project/project.rb
@@ -4,17 +4,23 @@ module Manifold
   module API
     # Projects API
     class Project
-      attr_reader :name, :directory
+      DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
+        name: File.basename(Dir.getwd)
+      }
 
-      def initialize(name, directory: Pathname.pwd.join(name))
-        self.name = name
-        self.directory = Pathname(directory)
+      attr_reader :config_path
+
+      def initialize(config: Pathname.pwd.join("project.yaml"))
+        self.config_path = config
+      end
+
+      def create
+        File.open(config_path, "w") { |file| file.write DEFAULT_CONFIG.to_yaml }
+        [workspaces_directory, vectors_directory].each(&:mkpath)
       end
 
-      def self.create(name, directory: Pathname.pwd.join(name))
-        new(name, directory: directory).tap do |project|
-          [project.workspaces_directory, project.vectors_directory].each(&:mkpath)
-        end
+      def directory
+        Pathname.new(Dir.pwd)
       end
 
       def workspaces_directory
@@ -25,9 +31,19 @@ def vectors_directory
         directory.join("vectors")
       end
 
+      def created?
+        File.exist? config_path
+      end
+
+      def config
+        return nil unless created?
+
+        @config ||= YAML.safe_load_file(config_path, permitted_classes: [Symbol])
+      end
+
       private
 
-      attr_writer :name, :directory
+      attr_writer :config_path
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/manifold/project/workspace.rb b/lib/manifold/project/workspace.rb
index 8ec385d..796872e 100644
--- a/lib/manifold/project/workspace.rb
+++ b/lib/manifold/project/workspace.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ class Workspace
 
       DEFAULT_TEMPLATE_PATH = Pathname.pwd.join(
         "lib", "manifold", "templates", "workspace_template.yml"
-      )
+      ).freeze
 
       def initialize(name, project:, template_path: DEFAULT_TEMPLATE_PATH)
         self.name = name
diff --git a/spec/manifold/api/project_spec.rb b/spec/manifold/api/project_spec.rb
index 62b764f..8e0fe3f 100644
--- a/spec/manifold/api/project_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/manifold/api/project_spec.rb
@@ -1,24 +1,16 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
-RSpec.describe Manifold::API::Project do
+RSpec.describe(Manifold::API::Project) do
   include FakeFS::SpecHelpers
 
-  subject(:project) { described_class.new(name) }
+  subject(:project) { described_class.new(config: config) }
 
-  let(:name) { "wetland" }
+  let(:config) { Pathname.pwd.join("project.yaml") }
 
-  it { is_expected.to have_attributes(name: name) }
+  it { is_expected.to have_attributes(config_path: config) }
 
-  describe ".create" do
-    before { described_class.create(name) }
-
-    it "creates the vectors directory" do
-      expect(project.vectors_directory).to be_directory
-    end
-
-    it "creates the workspaces directory" do
-      expect(project.workspaces_directory).to be_directory
-    end
+  describe ".directory" do
+    it { expect(project.directory).to be_an_instance_of(Pathname) }
   end
 
   describe ".workspaces_directory" do
@@ -29,19 +21,33 @@
     it { expect(project.vectors_directory).to be_an_instance_of(Pathname) }
   end
 
-  context "with directory" do
-    subject(:project) { described_class.new(name, directory: directory) }
+  context "when not created" do
+    describe ".created?" do
+      it { expect(project.created?).to be false }
+    end
+
+    describe ".config" do
+      it { expect(project.config).to be nil }
+    end
+
+    describe ".create" do
+      before { project.create }
 
-    let(:directory) { Pathname.pwd.join("supplied_directory") }
+      it { expect(project.config_path).to be_file }
+      it { expect(project.vectors_directory).to be_directory }
+      it { expect(project.workspaces_directory).to be_directory }
+    end
+  end
 
-    it { is_expected.to have_attributes(directory: directory) }
+  context "when created" do
+    before { project.create }
 
-    it "uses it as the base for the vectors directory" do
-      expect(project.vectors_directory).to eq directory.join("vectors")
+    describe ".created?" do
+      it { expect(project.created?).to be true }
     end
 
-    it "uses it as the base for the workspaces directory" do
-      expect(project.workspaces_directory).to eq directory.join("workspaces")
+    describe ".config" do
+      it { expect(project.config).to be_a(Hash) }
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/manifold/cli_spec.rb b/spec/manifold/cli_spec.rb
index 85e6cbc..15ba210 100644
--- a/spec/manifold/cli_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/manifold/cli_spec.rb
@@ -2,97 +2,60 @@
 
 RSpec.describe Manifold::CLI do
   include FakeFS::SpecHelpers
+  subject(:cli) { described_class.new(logger: logger, project: project) }
 
-  let(:null_logger) { instance_double(Logger) }
-  let(:mock_project) { instance_double(Manifold::API::Project) }
-  let(:mock_workspace) { instance_double(Manifold::API::Workspace) }
-  let(:mock_vector) { instance_double(Manifold::API::Vector) }
+  let(:project) { Manifold::API::Project.new }
+  let(:logger) { Logger.new(IO::NULL) }
 
-  before do
-    allow(Manifold::API::Project).to receive(:new).and_return(mock_project)
-    allow(Manifold::API::Workspace).to receive(:new).and_return(mock_workspace)
-    allow(Manifold::API::Vector).to receive(:new).and_return(mock_vector)
-    allow(null_logger).to receive(:info)
-    allow(null_logger).to receive(:level=)
-  end
-
-  describe "#init" do
-    subject(:cli) { described_class.new(logger: null_logger) }
-
-    let(:project_name) { "wetland" }
-
-    context "when initializing a new project" do
-      before do
-        allow(Manifold::API::Project).to receive(:create).and_return(mock_project)
-      end
+  # let(:null_logger) { instance_double(Logger) }
+  # let(:mock_project) { instance_double(Manifold::API::Project) }
+  # let(:mock_workspace) { instance_double(Manifold::API::Workspace) }
+  # let(:mock_vector) { instance_double(Manifold::API::Vector) }
 
-      it "creates a new project through the API" do
-        cli.init(project_name)
-        expect(Manifold::API::Project).to have_received(:create).with(project_name)
-      end
+  # before do
+  #   allow(Manifold::API::Project).to receive(:new).and_return(mock_project)
+  #   allow(Manifold::API::Workspace).to receive(:new).and_return(mock_workspace)
+  #   allow(Manifold::API::Vector).to receive(:new).and_return(mock_vector)
+  #   allow(null_logger).to receive(:info)
+  #   allow(null_logger).to receive(:level=)
+  # end
 
-      it "logs the project creation" do
-        cli.init(project_name)
-        expect(null_logger).to have_received(:info)
-          .with("Created umbrella project '#{project_name}' with projects and vectors directories.")
-      end
+  describe "#init" do
+    before do
+      allow(project).to receive(:create)
+      allow(logger).to receive(:info)
+      cli.init
     end
+
+    it { expect(project).to have_received(:create) }
+    it { expect(logger).to have_received(:info) }
   end
 
   describe "#add" do
-    subject(:cli) { described_class.new(logger: null_logger) }
-
-    let(:workspace_name) { "Commerce" }
-
-    context "when adding a workspace" do
-      before do
-        allow(mock_workspace).to receive(:add)
-        cli.add(workspace_name)
-      end
-
-      it "instantiates a new workspace through the API" do
-        expect(Manifold::API::Workspace).to have_received(:new)
-          .with(workspace_name, project: mock_project)
-      end
+    let(:name) { "workspace_name" }
+    let(:workspace) { Manifold::API::Workspace.new(name, project: project) }
 
-      it "adds the workspace through the API" do
-        expect(mock_workspace).to have_received(:add)
-      end
-
-      it "logs the workspace creation" do
-        expect(null_logger).to have_received(:info)
-          .with("Added workspace '#{workspace_name}' with tables and routines directories.")
-      end
+    before do
+      allow(workspace).to receive(:add)
+      cli.add(name)
     end
-  end
 
-  describe "vectors#add" do
-    subject(:cli) do
-      subcommands = described_class.new.class.subcommand_classes
-      subcommands["vectors"].new(logger: null_logger)
-    end
+    it { expect(workspace).to have_received(:add) }
+    it { expect(logger).to have_received(:info) }
+  end
 
-    let(:vector_name) { "page" }
+  describe "vector subcommand" do
+    let(:name) { "vector_name" }
+    let(:vector) { Manifold::API::Vector.new(name, project: project) }
 
-    context "when adding a vector" do
+    describe "#add" do
       before do
-        allow(mock_vector).to receive(:add)
-        cli.add(vector_name)
-      end
-
-      it "instantiates a new vector through the API" do
-        expect(Manifold::API::Vector).to have_received(:new)
-          .with(vector_name, project: mock_project)
+        allow(vector).to receive(:add)
+        cli.add(name)
       end
 
-      it "adds the vector through the API" do
-        expect(mock_vector).to have_received(:add)
-      end
-
-      it "logs the vector creation" do
-        expect(null_logger).to have_received(:info)
-          .with("Created vector configuration for '#{vector_name}'.")
-      end
+      it { expect(vector).to have_received(:add) }
+      it { expect(logger).to have_received(:info) }
     end
   end
 end