diff --git a/web/src/components/JoinProjectModal/JoinProjectModal.js b/web/src/components/JoinProjectModal/JoinProjectModal.tsx
similarity index 70%
rename from web/src/components/JoinProjectModal/JoinProjectModal.js
rename to web/src/components/JoinProjectModal/JoinProjectModal.tsx
index 8c5879290..535cda7e5 100644
--- a/web/src/components/JoinProjectModal/JoinProjectModal.js
+++ b/web/src/components/JoinProjectModal/JoinProjectModal.tsx
@@ -39,23 +39,24 @@ function JoinProjectForm({
       <ProjectModalHeading title="Join an existing project" />
       <ProjectModalSubHeading title="You will need to sync with a peer to get started" />
       <ProjectModalContentSpacer>
-      <ProjectModalContent>
-        <ValidatingFormInput
-          value={projectSecret}
-          onChange={onSecretChange}
-          invalidInput={invalidText}
-          errorText={invalidText}
-          label="Project Invitation Secret"
-          helpText="Paste the 5 word secret you received from the project host"
-        />
-      </ProjectModalContent>
+        <ProjectModalContent>
+          {/* @ts-ignore */}
+          <ValidatingFormInput
+            value={projectSecret}
+            onChange={onSecretChange}
+            invalidInput={invalidText}
+            errorText={invalidText}
+            label="Project Invitation Secret"
+            helpText="Paste the 5 word secret you received from the project host"
+          />
+        </ProjectModalContent>
       </ProjectModalContentSpacer>
       <ProjectModalButton text={validateButtonContent} onClick={onValidate} />
     </div>
   )
 }
 
-function ProjectJoinFollowUp({ onDone, peerFound, checkDone }) {
+function ProjectJoinFollowUp({ onDone, checkDone }) {
   return (
     <div
       className={`project-join-follow-up ${
@@ -63,24 +64,16 @@ function ProjectJoinFollowUp({ onDone, peerFound, checkDone }) {
       }`}
     >
       <div>
-      <ProjectModalHeading
-        title={
-          peerFound
-            ? 'Project joined successfully'
-            : 'Project has been queued for syncing'
-        }
-      />
-      {!peerFound && (
+        <ProjectModalHeading title="Project has been queued for syncing" />
         <ProjectModalSubHeading title="In order to join this project, you and a peer must simultaneously open the app." />
-      )}
       </div>
-        <ProjectModalContent>
-          <div className="project-join-follow-up-content-wrapper">
-            {peerFound
-              ? 'Peers in this project were found so now you will get synced with them.'
-              : `If a peer is found, you are likely to be able to immediately begin to access the project, although a short sync period in the queue may be required before you can access it.`}
-          </div>
-        </ProjectModalContent>
+      <ProjectModalContent>
+        <div className="project-join-follow-up-content-wrapper">
+          If a peer is found, you are likely to be able to immediately begin to
+          access the project, although a short sync period in the queue may be
+          required before you can access it.
+        </div>
+      </ProjectModalContent>
       <ProjectModalButton text="I understand" onClick={onDone} />
     </div>
   )
@@ -95,7 +88,6 @@ export default function JoinProjectModal({
     setProjectSecret('')
     setValidatingSecret(false)
     setInvalidText('')
-    setPeerFound(false)
     setCheckDone(false)
   }
   const onValidate = async () => {
@@ -105,12 +97,12 @@ export default function JoinProjectModal({
     }
     setValidatingSecret(true)
     try {
-      const peerWasFound = await onJoinProject(projectSecret)
-      setPeerFound(peerWasFound)
+      await onJoinProject(projectSecret)
       setCheckDone(true)
       setValidatingSecret(false)
     } catch (e) {
       console.log(e)
+      // TODO: add better detail here
       setInvalidText('There was an error while joining project: ' + e.message)
     }
   }
@@ -120,7 +112,6 @@ export default function JoinProjectModal({
   }
 
   const [checkDone, setCheckDone] = useState(false)
-  const [peerFound, setPeerFound] = useState(true)
   const [projectSecret, setProjectSecret] = useState('')
   const [invalidText, setInvalidText] = useState('')
 
@@ -132,7 +123,10 @@ export default function JoinProjectModal({
     setProjectSecret(val)
     if (!val) {
       setInvalidText('')
-    } else if (val.split(' ').length !== 5 || !val.split(' ').every(word => word.length)) {
+    } else if (
+      val.split(' ').length !== 5 ||
+      !val.split(' ').every((word) => word.length)
+    ) {
       setInvalidText('Secret must be 5 words.')
     }
   }
@@ -144,14 +138,9 @@ export default function JoinProjectModal({
       onClose={onDone}
       className="join-project-modal-wrapper"
     >
-      <ProjectJoinFollowUp
-        onDone={onDone}
-        checkDone={checkDone}
-        peerFound={peerFound}
-      />
+      <ProjectJoinFollowUp onDone={onDone} checkDone={checkDone} />
       <JoinProjectForm
         checkDone={checkDone}
-        peerFound={peerFound}
         projectSecret={projectSecret}
         onSecretChange={onSecretChange}
         invalidText={invalidText}
diff --git a/web/src/components/PendingProjects/PendingProjects.tsx b/web/src/components/PendingProjects/PendingProjects.tsx
index 410c0debb..78d53bd63 100644
--- a/web/src/components/PendingProjects/PendingProjects.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/PendingProjects/PendingProjects.tsx
@@ -17,12 +17,12 @@ function PendingProjects({
   pendingProjects,
   fetchProjectMeta,
   setPendingProjects,
-  deactivateApp,
+  deactivateProject,
 }: {
   pendingProjects: string[]
   fetchProjectMeta: any
   setPendingProjects: React.Dispatch<React.SetStateAction<string[]>>
-  deactivateApp: (appId: string, cellId: string) => Promise<void>
+  deactivateProject: (appId: string, cellId: string) => Promise<void>
 }) {
   const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState(false)
   const [passphrases, setPassphrases] = useState<AppInfoStore>({})
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ function PendingProjects({
   }, [JSON.stringify(pendingProjects)])
 
   const cancelProjectJoin = async (appId: string, cellId: string) => {
-    await deactivateApp(appId, cellId)
+    await deactivateProject(appId, cellId)
     // remove this project from pendingProjects
     setPendingProjects((pendingProjects: string[]) => {
       return pendingProjects.filter((c) => c !== cellId)
diff --git a/web/src/migrating/import/import.ts b/web/src/migrating/import/import.ts
index 726a93dd1..d9d28ab8d 100644
--- a/web/src/migrating/import/import.ts
+++ b/web/src/migrating/import/import.ts
@@ -3,19 +3,18 @@ import { cellIdFromString } from '../../utils'
 import { RootState } from '../../redux/reducer'
 import { AllProjectsDataExport } from '../export'
 import { createWhoami } from '../../redux/persistent/profiles/who-am-i/actions'
-import { installProjectApp } from '../../projects/installProjectApp'
+import { installProject } from '../../projects/installProject'
 import { joinProjectCellId } from '../../redux/persistent/cells/actions'
-import { createProfilesZomeApi, createProjectsZomeApi } from './zomeApiCreators'
-import { installProjectAppAndImport } from './installProjectAppAndImport'
+import { createProfilesZomeApi } from './zomeApiCreators'
+import { installProjectAndImport } from './installProjectAndImport'
 import ProfilesZomeApi from '../../api/profilesApi'
-import ProjectsZomeApi from '../../api/projectsApi'
+import { internalJoinProject } from '../../projects/joinProject'
 
 export async function internalImportProjectsData(
   // dependencies
   profilesZomeApi: ProfilesZomeApi,
-  projectsZomeApi: ProjectsZomeApi,
-  _installProjectAppAndImport: typeof installProjectAppAndImport,
-  _installProjectApp: typeof installProjectApp,
+  _installProjectAndImport: typeof installProjectAndImport,
+  _installProject: typeof installProject,
   store: any,
   // main input data and callbacks
   migrationData: string,
@@ -60,12 +59,11 @@ export async function internalImportProjectsData(
   // one completes
   for await (let projectData of projectsToMigrate) {
     const passphrase = projectData.projectMeta.passphrase
-    await _installProjectAppAndImport(
+    await _installProjectAndImport(
       myAgentPubKey,
       projectData,
       passphrase,
       store.dispatch,
-      projectsZomeApi
     )
     stepsSoFar++
     onStep(stepsSoFar, totalSteps)
@@ -74,8 +72,7 @@ export async function internalImportProjectsData(
   // join each project that has already been migrated by a peer
   for await (let projectData of migratedProjectsToJoin) {
     const passphrase = projectData.projectMeta.passphrase
-    const [cellIdString, _, __] = await _installProjectApp(passphrase)
-    store.dispatch(joinProjectCellId(cellIdString))
+    await internalJoinProject(passphrase, store.dispatch, _installProject)
     stepsSoFar++
     onStep(stepsSoFar, totalSteps)
   }
@@ -88,12 +85,10 @@ export default async function importProjectsData(
 ) {
   const appWebsocket = await getAppWs()
   const profilesZomeApi = createProfilesZomeApi(appWebsocket)
-  const projectsZomeApi = createProjectsZomeApi(appWebsocket)
   return internalImportProjectsData(
     profilesZomeApi,
-    projectsZomeApi,
-    installProjectAppAndImport,
-    installProjectApp,
+    installProjectAndImport,
+    installProject,
     store,
     migrationData,
     onStep
diff --git a/web/src/migrating/import/installProjectAppAndImport.ts b/web/src/migrating/import/installProjectAndImport.ts
similarity index 50%
rename from web/src/migrating/import/installProjectAppAndImport.ts
rename to web/src/migrating/import/installProjectAndImport.ts
index a52e7c727..525035d2a 100644
--- a/web/src/migrating/import/installProjectAppAndImport.ts
+++ b/web/src/migrating/import/installProjectAndImport.ts
@@ -1,31 +1,30 @@
 import ProjectsZomeApi from '../../api/projectsApi'
-import { installProjectApp } from '../../projects/installProjectApp'
-import { setMember } from '../../redux/persistent/projects/members/actions'
-import { simpleCreateProjectMeta } from '../../redux/persistent/projects/project-meta/actions'
+import { finalizeCreateProject } from '../../projects/createProject'
+import { getAppWs } from '../../hcWebsockets'
+import { installProject } from '../../projects/installProject'
 import { AgentPubKeyB64 } from '../../types/shared'
-import { cellIdFromString } from '../../utils'
 import { ProjectExportDataV1 } from '../export'
 import { cloneProjectMeta } from './cloneFunctions'
 import { createActionHashMapAndImportProjectData } from './createActionHashMapAndImportProjectData'
 
-export async function internalInstallProjectAppAndImport(
+export async function internalInstallProjectAndImport(
   agentAddress: AgentPubKeyB64,
   projectData: ProjectExportDataV1,
   passphrase: string,
   dispatch: any,
-  _installProjectApp: typeof installProjectApp,
-  _importProjectData: typeof createActionHashMapAndImportProjectData,
+  iInstallProject: typeof installProject,
+  iCreateActionHashMapAndImportProjectData: typeof createActionHashMapAndImportProjectData,
+  iFinalizeCreateProject: typeof finalizeCreateProject,
   projectsZomeApi: ProjectsZomeApi
 ) {
   
   // first step is to install the dna
-  const [projectsCellIdString] = await _installProjectApp(passphrase)
-  const cellId = cellIdFromString(projectsCellIdString)
+  const [cellIdString] = await iInstallProject(passphrase)
   
   // next step is to import the bulk of the data into that project
-  const oldToNewAddressMaps = await _importProjectData(
+  const oldToNewAddressMaps = await iCreateActionHashMapAndImportProjectData(
     projectData,
-    projectsCellIdString,
+    cellIdString,
     dispatch
   )
 
@@ -39,32 +38,31 @@ export async function internalInstallProjectAppAndImport(
     passphrase
   )(projectData.projectMeta)
   delete projectMeta.actionHash
-  const simpleCreatedProjectMeta = await projectsZomeApi.projectMeta.simpleCreateProjectMeta(
-    cellId,
-    projectMeta
-  )
-  dispatch(
-    simpleCreateProjectMeta(projectsCellIdString, simpleCreatedProjectMeta)
+  await iFinalizeCreateProject(
+    cellIdString,
+    projectMeta,
+    agentAddress,
+    dispatch,
+    projectsZomeApi
   )
-  // this registers the agent to redux as a member of the project
-  dispatch(setMember(projectsCellIdString, { agentPubKey: agentAddress }))
-
 }
 
-export async function installProjectAppAndImport(
+export async function installProjectAndImport(
   agentAddress: AgentPubKeyB64,
   projectData: ProjectExportDataV1,
   passphrase: string,
   dispatch: any,
-  projectsZomeApi: ProjectsZomeApi
 ) {
-  internalInstallProjectAppAndImport(
+  const appWebsocket = await getAppWs()
+  const projectsZomeApi = new ProjectsZomeApi(appWebsocket)
+  return internalInstallProjectAndImport(
     agentAddress,
     projectData,
     passphrase,
     dispatch,
-    installProjectApp,
+    installProject,
     createActionHashMapAndImportProjectData,
+    finalizeCreateProject,
     projectsZomeApi
   )
 }
diff --git a/web/src/projects/createProject.ts b/web/src/projects/createProject.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..30f475e20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/projects/createProject.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import { AgentPubKeyB64 } from '@holochain/client'
+import ProjectsZomeApi from '../api/projectsApi'
+import { setMember } from '../redux/persistent/projects/members/actions'
+import { simpleCreateProjectMeta } from '../redux/persistent/projects/project-meta/actions'
+import { ProjectMeta } from '../types'
+import { cellIdFromString } from '../utils'
+import { installProject } from './installProject'
+import { CellIdString } from '../types/shared'
+
+export async function finalizeCreateProject(
+  cellIdString: CellIdString,
+  projectMeta: ProjectMeta,
+  agentAddress: AgentPubKeyB64,
+  dispatch: any,
+  projectsZomeApi: ProjectsZomeApi
+) {
+  const cellId = cellIdFromString(cellIdString)
+  const createdProjectMeta = await projectsZomeApi.projectMeta.simpleCreateProjectMeta(
+    cellId,
+    projectMeta
+  )
+  dispatch(simpleCreateProjectMeta(cellIdString, createdProjectMeta))
+  // because we are acting optimistically,
+  // we will directly set ourselves as a member of this cell
+  dispatch(setMember(cellIdString, { agentPubKey: agentAddress }))
+}
+
+export async function internalCreateProject(
+  passphrase: string,
+  projectMeta: ProjectMeta,
+  agentAddress: AgentPubKeyB64,
+  dispatch: any,
+  iInstallProject: typeof installProject,
+  projectsZomeApi: ProjectsZomeApi
+) {
+  const startTime = Date.now()
+  const [cellIdString] = await iInstallProject(passphrase)
+  await finalizeCreateProject(
+    cellIdString,
+    projectMeta,
+    agentAddress,
+    dispatch,
+    projectsZomeApi
+  )
+  const endTime = Date.now()
+  console.log('duration in MS over createProject ', endTime - startTime)
+  return cellIdString
+}
+
+export async function createProject(
+  passphrase: string,
+  projectMeta: ProjectMeta,
+  agentAddress: AgentPubKeyB64,
+  dispatch: any,
+  projectsZomeApi: ProjectsZomeApi
+) {
+  return internalCreateProject(
+    passphrase,
+    projectMeta,
+    agentAddress,
+    dispatch,
+    installProject,
+    projectsZomeApi
+  )
+}
diff --git a/web/src/projects/deactivateProject.ts b/web/src/projects/deactivateProject.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1f756fa9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/projects/deactivateProject.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import { AdminWebsocket } from '@holochain/client'
+import { removeProjectCellId } from '../redux/persistent/cells/actions'
+import { CellIdString } from '../types/shared'
+
+export async function deactivateProject(
+  appId: string,
+  cellId: CellIdString,
+  dispatch: any,
+  adminWs: AdminWebsocket
+) {
+  // deactivate it in holochain
+  await adminWs.disableApp({
+    installed_app_id: appId,
+  })
+  // remove it from our redux state
+  dispatch(removeProjectCellId(cellId))
+}
diff --git a/web/src/projects/installProject.ts b/web/src/projects/installProject.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..06e77e4c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/projects/installProject.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+import { AdminWebsocket, CellId, CellType } from '@holochain/client'
+import { getAdminWs, getAgentPubKey } from '../hcWebsockets'
+import { PROJECT_APP_PREFIX } from '../holochainConfig'
+import { passphraseToUid } from '../secrets'
+import { CellIdString } from '../types/shared'
+import { cellIdToString } from '../utils'
+
+export async function internalInstallProject(
+  passphrase: string,
+  adminWs: AdminWebsocket,
+): Promise<[CellIdString, CellId, string]> {
+  const uid = passphraseToUid(passphrase)
+  // add a bit of randomness so that
+  // the same passphrase can be tried multiple different times
+  // without conflicting
+  // in order to eventually find their peers
+  // note that this will leave a graveyard of deactivated apps for attempted
+  // joins
+  const installed_app_id = `${PROJECT_APP_PREFIX}-${Math.random()
+    .toString()
+    .slice(-6)}-${uid}`
+  const agent_key = getAgentPubKey()
+  if (!agent_key) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'Cannot install a new project because no AgentPubKey is known locally'
+    )
+  }
+  // the dna hash HAS to act deterministically
+  // in order for the 'joining' of Projects to work
+  const happPath = window.require
+    ? await window.require('electron').ipcRenderer.invoke('getProjectsPath')
+    : './happ/workdir/projects/projects.happ'
+  // INSTALL
+  const installedApp = await adminWs.installApp({
+    agent_key,
+    installed_app_id,
+    // what to do about the membrane_proof?
+    membrane_proofs: {},
+    path: happPath,
+    network_seed: uid,
+  })
+  const cellInfo = Object.values(installedApp.cell_info)[0][0]
+  const cellId =
+    CellType.Provisioned in cellInfo
+      ? cellInfo[CellType.Provisioned].cell_id
+      : null
+  const cellIdString = cellIdToString(cellId)
+  await adminWs.enableApp({ installed_app_id })
+
+  //authorize zome calls for the new cell
+  await adminWs.authorizeSigningCredentials(cellId)
+  return [cellIdString, cellId, installed_app_id]
+}
+
+export async function installProject(
+  passphrase: string
+): Promise<[CellIdString, CellId, string]> {
+  const adminWs = await getAdminWs()
+  return internalInstallProject(passphrase, adminWs)
+}
diff --git a/web/src/projects/installProjectApp.ts b/web/src/projects/installProjectApp.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index b597a7554..000000000
--- a/web/src/projects/installProjectApp.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
-import { CellId, CellType } from "@holochain/client"
-import { getAdminWs, getAgentPubKey } from "../hcWebsockets"
-import { PROJECT_APP_PREFIX } from "../holochainConfig"
-import { passphraseToUid } from "../secrets"
-import { CellIdString } from "../types/shared"
-import { cellIdToString } from "../utils"
-
-export async function installProjectApp(
-    passphrase: string
-  ): Promise<[CellIdString, CellId, string]> {
-    const uid = passphraseToUid(passphrase)
-    // add a bit of randomness so that
-    // the same passphrase can be tried multiple different times
-    // without conflicting
-    // in order to eventually find their peers
-    // note that this will leave a graveyard of deactivated apps for attempted
-    // joins
-    const installed_app_id = `${PROJECT_APP_PREFIX}-${Math.random()
-      .toString()
-      .slice(-6)}-${uid}`
-    const adminWs = await getAdminWs()
-    const agent_key = getAgentPubKey()
-    if (!agent_key) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Cannot install a new project because no AgentPubKey is known locally'
-      )
-    }
-    // the dna hash HAS to act deterministically
-    // in order for the 'joining' of Projects to work
-    const happPath = window.require
-      ? await window.require('electron').ipcRenderer.invoke('getProjectsPath')
-      : './happ/workdir/projects/projects.happ'
-    console.log(happPath)
-    // INSTALL
-    const installedApp = await adminWs.installApp({
-      agent_key,
-      installed_app_id,
-      // what to do about the membrane_proof?
-      membrane_proofs: {},
-      path: happPath,
-      network_seed: uid,
-    })
-    const cellInfo = Object.values(installedApp.cell_info)[0][0]
-    const cellId = (CellType.Provisioned in cellInfo) ? cellInfo[CellType.Provisioned].cell_id : null
-    const cellIdString = cellIdToString(cellId)
-    await adminWs.enableApp({ installed_app_id })
-
-    //authorize zome calls for the new cell
-    await adminWs.authorizeSigningCredentials(cellId)
-    return [cellIdString, cellId, installed_app_id]
-  }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/web/src/projects/joinProject.ts b/web/src/projects/joinProject.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9d9341f52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/projects/joinProject.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import { AppWebsocket, CellId } from '@holochain/client'
+import { installProject } from './installProject'
+import { PROJECTS_ZOME_NAME } from '../holochainConfig'
+import { getAgentPubKey } from '../hcWebsockets'
+import { joinProjectCellId } from '../redux/persistent/cells/actions'
+import { CellIdString } from '../types/shared'
+
+export async function internalJoinProject(
+  passphrase: string,
+  dispatch: any,
+  iInstallProject: typeof installProject
+) {
+  const [cellIdString, _cellId, _installedAppId] = await iInstallProject(
+    passphrase
+  )
+  // this will trigger the fetching of project meta
+  // checks and other things
+  dispatch(joinProjectCellId(cellIdString))
+  return cellIdString
+}
+
+export async function joinProject(
+  passphrase: string,
+  dispatch: any
+): Promise<CellIdString> {
+  return internalJoinProject(passphrase, dispatch, installProject)
+}
+
+export function triggerJoinSignal(cellId: CellId, appWs: AppWebsocket) {
+  // trigger a side effect...
+  // this will let other project members know you're here
+  // without 'blocking' the thread or the UX
+  appWs
+    .callZome(
+      {
+        cap_secret: null,
+        cell_id: cellId,
+        zome_name: PROJECTS_ZOME_NAME,
+        fn_name: 'init_signal',
+        payload: null,
+        provenance: getAgentPubKey(), // FIXME: this will need correcting after holochain changes this
+      },
+      50000
+    )
+    .then(() => console.log('succesfully triggered init_signal'))
+    .catch((e) => console.error('failed while triggering init_signal: ', e))
+}
diff --git a/web/src/routes/Dashboard/Dashboard.component.tsx b/web/src/routes/Dashboard/Dashboard.component.tsx
index 3575afe12..12a633440 100644
--- a/web/src/routes/Dashboard/Dashboard.component.tsx
+++ b/web/src/routes/Dashboard/Dashboard.component.tsx
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ export type DashboardDispatchProps = {
     cellIdString: CellIdString
   ) => Promise<void>
   fetchEntryPointDetails: (cellIdString: CellIdString) => Promise<void>
-  joinProject: (passphrase: string) => Promise<boolean>
-  deactivateApp: (appId: string, cellId: CellIdString) => Promise<void>
-  importProject: (
+  joinProject: (passphrase: string) => Promise<CellIdString>
+  deactivateProject: (appId: string, cellId: CellIdString) => Promise<void>
+  installProjectAndImport: (
     agentAddress: AgentPubKeyB64,
     projectData: any,
     passphrase: string
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export type DashboardDispatchProps = {
 export type DashboardProps = DashboardStateProps & DashboardDispatchProps
 
 const Dashboard: React.FC<DashboardProps> = ({
-  deactivateApp,
+  deactivateProject,
   agentAddress,
   cells,
   projects,
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ const Dashboard: React.FC<DashboardProps> = ({
   updateProjectMeta,
   createProject,
   joinProject,
-  importProject,
+  installProjectAndImport,
   setShowInviteMembersModal,
 }) => {
   const { setShowUpdateModal } = useContext(UpdateModalContext)
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ const Dashboard: React.FC<DashboardProps> = ({
   const onJoinProject = (passphrase: string) => joinProject(passphrase)
 
   const onImportProject = (projectData: any, passphrase: string) =>
-    importProject(agentAddress, projectData, passphrase)
+    installProjectAndImport(agentAddress, projectData, passphrase)
 
   const setSortBy = (sortBy) => () => {
     setSelectedSort(sortBy)
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ const Dashboard: React.FC<DashboardProps> = ({
                 pendingProjects={pendingProjects}
                 fetchProjectMeta={fetchProjectMeta}
                 setPendingProjects={setPendingProjects}
-                deactivateApp={deactivateApp}
+                deactivateProject={deactivateProject}
               />
             )}
             {!hasFetchedForAllProjects &&
diff --git a/web/src/routes/Dashboard/Dashboard.connector.ts b/web/src/routes/Dashboard/Dashboard.connector.ts
index fcd92dc3d..4a4ffeb67 100644
--- a/web/src/routes/Dashboard/Dashboard.connector.ts
+++ b/web/src/routes/Dashboard/Dashboard.connector.ts
@@ -1,25 +1,18 @@
 import { connect } from 'react-redux'
 
-import { PROJECTS_ZOME_NAME } from '../../holochainConfig'
-import { getAdminWs, getAppWs, getAgentPubKey } from '../../hcWebsockets'
+import { getAdminWs, getAppWs } from '../../hcWebsockets'
 import { fetchEntryPointDetails } from '../../redux/persistent/projects/entry-points/actions'
 import {
   fetchMembers,
-  setMember,
 } from '../../redux/persistent/projects/members/actions'
 import {
-  simpleCreateProjectMeta,
   fetchProjectMeta,
   updateProjectMeta,
 } from '../../redux/persistent/projects/project-meta/actions'
 import selectEntryPoints from '../../redux/persistent/projects/entry-points/select'
 
 import { setActiveProject } from '../../redux/ephemeral/active-project/actions'
-import {
-  joinProjectCellId,
-  removeProjectCellId,
-} from '../../redux/persistent/cells/actions'
-import { installProjectAppAndImport } from '../../migrating/import/import'
+import { installProjectAndImport } from '../../migrating/import/installProjectAndImport'
 import { openInviteMembersModal } from '../../redux/ephemeral/invite-members-modal/actions'
 import ProjectsZomeApi from '../../api/projectsApi'
 import { cellIdFromString } from '../../utils'
@@ -31,77 +24,9 @@ import Dashboard, {
 } from './Dashboard.component'
 import { LayeringAlgorithm, ProjectMeta } from '../../types'
 import selectProjectMembersPresent from '../../redux/persistent/projects/realtime-info-signal/select'
-import { installProjectApp } from '../../projects/installProjectApp'
-
-async function createProject(
-  passphrase: string,
-  projectMeta: ProjectMeta,
-  agentAddress: AgentPubKeyB64,
-  dispatch: any
-) {
-  const [cellIdString] = await installProjectApp(passphrase)
-  const cellId = cellIdFromString(cellIdString)
-  // because we are acting optimistically,
-  // we will directly set ourselves as a member of this cell
-  const appWebsocket = await getAppWs()
-  const projectsZomeApi = new ProjectsZomeApi(appWebsocket)
-  await dispatch(setMember(cellIdString, { agentPubKey: agentAddress }))
-  const b1 = Date.now()
-  const simpleCreatedProjectMeta = await projectsZomeApi.projectMeta.simpleCreateProjectMeta(
-    cellId,
-    projectMeta
-  )
-  await dispatch(
-    simpleCreateProjectMeta(cellIdString, simpleCreatedProjectMeta)
-  )
-  const b2 = Date.now()
-  console.log('duration in MS over createProjectMeta ', b2 - b1)
-  return cellIdString
-}
-
-async function joinProject(passphrase: string, dispatch): Promise<boolean> {
-  // joinProject
-  // join a DNA
-  // then try to find a peer
-  // either way, just push the project into the 'queue'
-  const [cellIdString, cellId, installedAppId] = await installProjectApp(
-    passphrase
-  )
-  const appWs = await getAppWs()
-  // trigger a side effect...
-  // this will let other project members know you're here
-  // without 'blocking' the thread or the UX
-  appWs
-    .callZome(
-      {
-        cap_secret: null,
-        cell_id: cellId,
-        zome_name: PROJECTS_ZOME_NAME,
-        fn_name: 'init_signal',
-        payload: null,
-        provenance: getAgentPubKey(), // FIXME: this will need correcting after holochain changes this
-      },
-      50000
-    )
-    .then(() => console.log('succesfully triggered init_signal'))
-    .catch((e) => console.error('failed while triggering init_signal: ', e))
-  // this will trigger the fetching of project meta
-  // checks and other things
-  dispatch(joinProjectCellId(cellIdString))
-  return false
-}
-
-async function deactivateApp(
-  appId: string,
-  cellId: CellIdString,
-  dispatch: any
-) {
-  const adminWs = await getAdminWs()
-  await adminWs.disableApp({
-    installed_app_id: appId,
-  })
-  await dispatch(removeProjectCellId(cellId))
-}
+import { deactivateProject } from '../../projects/deactivateProject'
+import { createProject } from '../../projects/createProject'
+import { joinProject, triggerJoinSignal } from '../../projects/joinProject'
 
 // ACTUAL REDUX FUNCTIONS
 
@@ -137,8 +62,9 @@ function mapDispatchToProps(dispatch): DashboardDispatchProps {
     setShowInviteMembersModal: (passphrase: string) => {
       return dispatch(openInviteMembersModal(passphrase))
     },
-    deactivateApp: async (appId: string, cellId: CellIdString) => {
-      return deactivateApp(appId, cellId, dispatch)
+    deactivateProject: async (appId: string, cellId: CellIdString) => {
+      const adminWs = await getAdminWs()
+      return deactivateProject(appId, cellId, dispatch, adminWs)
     },
     fetchEntryPointDetails: async (cellIdString: CellIdString) => {
       const appWebsocket = await getAppWs()
@@ -165,12 +91,27 @@ function mapDispatchToProps(dispatch): DashboardDispatchProps {
       )
       return dispatch(fetchProjectMeta(cellIdString, projectMeta))
     },
+    updateProjectMeta: async (
+      projectMeta: ProjectMeta,
+      actionHash: ActionHashB64,
+      cellIdString: CellIdString
+    ) => {
+      const appWebsocket = await getAppWs()
+      const projectsZomeApi = new ProjectsZomeApi(appWebsocket)
+      const cellId = cellIdFromString(cellIdString)
+      const updatedProjectMeta = await projectsZomeApi.projectMeta.update(
+        cellId,
+        { entry: projectMeta, actionHash }
+      )
+      return dispatch(updateProjectMeta(cellIdString, updatedProjectMeta))
+    },
     createProject: async (
       agentAddress: AgentPubKeyB64,
       project: { name: string; image: string },
       passphrase: string
     ) => {
-      // matches the createProjectMeta fn and type signature
+      const appWs = await getAppWs()
+      const projectsZomeApi = new ProjectsZomeApi(appWs)
       const projectMeta: ProjectMeta = {
         ...project, // name and image
         passphrase,
@@ -181,27 +122,17 @@ function mapDispatchToProps(dispatch): DashboardDispatchProps {
         topPriorityOutcomes: [],
         isMigrated: null,
       }
-      await createProject(passphrase, projectMeta, agentAddress, dispatch)
+      await createProject(passphrase, projectMeta, agentAddress, dispatch, projectsZomeApi)
     },
-    updateProjectMeta: async (
-      projectMeta: ProjectMeta,
-      actionHash: ActionHashB64,
-      cellIdString: CellIdString
-    ) => {
-      const appWebsocket = await getAppWs()
-      const projectsZomeApi = new ProjectsZomeApi(appWebsocket)
+    joinProject: async (passphrase: string) => {
+      const appWs = await getAppWs()
+      const cellIdString = await joinProject(passphrase, dispatch)
       const cellId = cellIdFromString(cellIdString)
-      const updatedProjectMeta = await projectsZomeApi.projectMeta.update(
-        cellId,
-        { entry: projectMeta, actionHash }
-      )
-      return dispatch(updateProjectMeta(cellIdString, updatedProjectMeta))
-    },
-    joinProject: (passphrase: string) => {
-      return joinProject(passphrase, dispatch)
+      triggerJoinSignal(cellId, appWs)
+      return cellIdString
     },
-    importProject: (agentAddress, projectData, passphrase) => {
-      return installProjectAppAndImport(
+    installProjectAndImport: (agentAddress, projectData, passphrase) => {
+      return installProjectAndImport(
         agentAddress,
         projectData,
         passphrase,
diff --git a/web/test/createProject.test.ts b/web/test/createProject.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..99765710b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/test/createProject.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import { finalizeCreateProject } from '../src/projects/createProject'
+import mockUnmigratedProjectMeta from './mockProjectMeta'
+
+
+describe('finalizeCreateProject', () => {
+  it('should dispatch actions', () => {
+
+    const dispatch = jest.fn()
+    // const cellIdString = 'testCellIdString'
+    // await finalizeCreateProject()
+    
+    // expect(dispatch).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    // expect(dispatch).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, {
+    //   type: 'SIMPLE_CREATE_PROJECT_META',
+    //   payload: mockUnmigratedProjectMeta,
+    //   meta: { cellIdString: mockCellIdString },
+    // })
+    // expect(dispatch).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
+    //   type: 'SET_MEMBER',
+    //   payload: {
+    //     cellIdString: mockCellIdString,
+    //     member: {
+    //       agentPubKey: 'testAgentAddress',
+    //     },
+    //   },
+    // })
+  })
+})
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/web/test/import.test.ts b/web/test/import.test.ts
index 883f1cd73..1b4d05e4c 100644
--- a/web/test/import.test.ts
+++ b/web/test/import.test.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { OutcomeMember, ProjectMeta, Tag } from '../src/types'
 import { WireRecord } from '../src/api/hdkCrud'
 import mockUnmigratedProjectMeta from './mockProjectMeta'
 import mockBaseRootState from './mockRootState'
-import { installProjectApp as _installProjectApp } from '../src/projects/installProjectApp'
+import { installProject as _installProject } from '../src/projects/installProject'
 import { getAppWs as _getAppWs } from '../src/hcWebsockets'
 import { AppWebsocket } from '@holochain/client'
 import { RootState } from '../src/redux/reducer'
@@ -41,12 +41,13 @@ import {
   internalCreateActionHashMapAndImportProjectData,
 } from '../src/migrating/import/createActionHashMapAndImportProjectData'
 import {
-  installProjectAppAndImport as _installProjectAppAndImport,
-  internalInstallProjectAppAndImport,
-} from '../src/migrating/import/installProjectAppAndImport'
+  installProjectAndImport as _installProjectAndImport,
+  internalInstallProjectAndImport,
+} from '../src/migrating/import/installProjectAndImport'
 import mockWhoami from './mockWhoami'
 import { cellIdFromString } from '../src/utils'
 import mockActionHashMaps from './mockActionHashMaps'
+import { finalizeCreateProject as _finalizeCreateProject } from '../src/projects/createProject'
 
 let store: any // too complex of a type to mock
 
@@ -54,8 +55,9 @@ let createProfilesZomeApi: typeof _createProfilesZomeApi
 let createProjectsZomeApi: typeof _createProjectsZomeApi
 let profilesZomeApi: ProfilesZomeApi
 let projectsZomeApi: ProjectsZomeApi
-let installProjectAppAndImport: typeof _installProjectAppAndImport
-let installProjectApp: typeof _installProjectApp
+let installProjectAndImport: typeof _installProjectAndImport
+let installProject: typeof _installProject
+let finalizeCreateProject: typeof _finalizeCreateProject
 let createActionHashMapAndImportProjectData: typeof _createActionHashMapAndImportProjectData
 let baseRootState: typeof mockBaseRootState
 let mockGetState: () => RootState
@@ -118,14 +120,16 @@ beforeEach(() => {
   })
   profilesZomeApi = createProfilesZomeApi(mockAppWs)
   projectsZomeApi = createProjectsZomeApi(mockAppWs)
-  installProjectAppAndImport = jest.fn()
+  installProjectAndImport = jest.fn()
   mockCellIdString =
     '132,45,36,204,129,221,8,19,206,244,229,30,210,95,157,234,241,47,13,85,105,207,55,138,160,87,204,162,244,122,186,195,125,254,5,185,165,224,66[:cell_id_divider:]132,32,36,97,138,27,24,136,8,80,164,189,194,243,82,224,72,205,215,225,2,27,126,146,190,40,102,187,244,75,191,172,155,196,247,226,220,92,1'
 
-  installProjectApp = jest
+  installProject = jest
     .fn()
     .mockResolvedValue([mockCellIdString, ['abc'], 'testString'])
 
+  finalizeCreateProject = jest.fn()
+
   createActionHashMapAndImportProjectData = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({
     tagActionHashMap: {},
     outcomeActionHashMap: {},
@@ -153,9 +157,8 @@ describe('importProjectsData()', () => {
   it('successfully parses and imports project data and user profile', async () => {
     await internalImportProjectsData(
       profilesZomeApi,
-      projectsZomeApi,
-      installProjectAppAndImport,
-      installProjectApp,
+      installProjectAndImport,
+      installProject,
       store,
       mockMigrationData,
       onStep
@@ -174,17 +177,16 @@ describe('importProjectsData()', () => {
       sampleGoodDataExport.projects[1].projectMeta.isMigrated
     ).not.toBeNull()
 
-    expect(installProjectAppAndImport).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    expect(installProjectAppAndImport).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    expect(installProjectAndImport).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(installProjectAndImport).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       'testAgentAddress',
       sampleGoodDataExport.projects[0],
       sampleGoodDataExport.projects[0].projectMeta.passphrase,
       store.dispatch,
-      projectsZomeApi
     )
 
-    expect(installProjectApp).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    expect(installProjectApp).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    expect(installProject).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(installProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       sampleGoodDataExport.projects[1].projectMeta.passphrase
     )
 
@@ -217,9 +219,8 @@ describe('importProjectsData()', () => {
     try {
       await internalImportProjectsData(
         profilesZomeApi,
-        projectsZomeApi,
-        installProjectAppAndImport,
-        installProjectApp,
+        installProjectAndImport,
+        installProject,
         store,
         mockMigrationData,
         onStep
@@ -233,9 +234,8 @@ describe('importProjectsData()', () => {
     try {
       await internalImportProjectsData(
         profilesZomeApi,
-        projectsZomeApi,
-        installProjectAppAndImport,
-        installProjectApp,
+        installProjectAndImport,
+        installProject,
         store,
         mockMigrationData,
         onStep
@@ -249,21 +249,22 @@ describe('importProjectsData()', () => {
   })
 })
 
-describe('installProjectAppAndImport()', () => {
+describe('installProjectAndImport()', () => {
   const agentAddress = 'testAgentAddress'
   it('installs DNA and imports project into new cell', async () => {
-    await internalInstallProjectAppAndImport(
+    await internalInstallProjectAndImport(
       agentAddress,
       sampleGoodDataExport.projects[0],
       sampleGoodDataExport.projects[0].projectMeta.passphrase,
       store.dispatch,
-      installProjectApp,
+      installProject,
       createActionHashMapAndImportProjectData,
+      finalizeCreateProject,
       projectsZomeApi
     )
 
-    expect(installProjectApp).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    expect(installProjectApp).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    expect(installProject).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(installProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       sampleGoodDataExport.projects[0].projectMeta.passphrase
     )
 
@@ -274,21 +275,27 @@ describe('installProjectAppAndImport()', () => {
       store.dispatch
     )
 
-    expect(store.dispatch).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
-    expect(store.dispatch).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, {
-      type: 'SIMPLE_CREATE_PROJECT_META',
-      payload: projectMeta,
-      meta: { cellIdString: mockCellIdString },
-    })
-    expect(store.dispatch).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      type: 'SET_MEMBER',
-      payload: {
-        cellIdString: mockCellIdString,
-        member: {
-          agentPubKey: 'testAgentAddress',
-        },
-      },
-    })
+    expect(finalizeCreateProject).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    const expectedProjectMeta = {
+      creatorAgentPubKey: 'testAgentAddress',
+      // use expect.anything() because of Date.now()
+      // being used internally
+      createdAt: expect.anything(),
+      name: 'new project',
+      image: '',
+      passphrase: 'daily plant employee shorten define',
+      isImported: false,
+      layeringAlgorithm: 'CoffmanGraham',
+      topPriorityOutcomes: [],
+      isMigrated: null
+    }
+    expect(finalizeCreateProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      mockCellIdString,
+      expectedProjectMeta,
+      'testAgentAddress',
+      store.dispatch,
+      projectsZomeApi
+    )
   })
 })