| New GrowFL Companies |
East Central
Alcorn McBride, Inc.
www.alcorn.com
Bajalia International Group
www.bajalia.com
Deland Bakery, Inc.
www.delandbakery.com
DiCom Software, LLC
www.dicomsoftware.com
ER Precision Optical Corp.
www.eroptics.com
Industrial Lighting Products, Inc.
www.ilp-inc.com
Power Grid Engineering, LLC
www.powergridengineering.com
Primal Innovation
www.primalinnovation.com
Progressive Aerodyne, Inc.
www.searey.com
Northeast
Science First
www.sciencefirst.com
Northwest
C.B. Metcalf Co.
www.cbmetcalf.com
Golden Lighting
www.goldenlighting.com
H2 Performance Consulting Corporation
www.h2pc.com
IMS Expert Services
www.ims-expertservices.com
Label Technique Southeast, Inc.
www.labeltechnique.com
Moore Consulting Group, Inc.
www.moore-pr.com
Technical Software Services, Inc.
www.techsoft.com
Southeast
A.M.E.'s Uniforms
www.amesuniforms.com
Bio-Nucleonics, Inc.
www.bionucleonics.com
Boca Bearing Company
www.alcorn.com
Bruna Corporation
www.brunaseals.com
Distinctive Kitchens and Baths, Inc.
www.distinctiveknb.com
Egret Technologies
www.egrettechnologies.com
eMindful, Inc.
www.emindful.com
Enterprise Resources Technology Group, Inc.
www.ertgroup.com
Protech E2, Inc.
www.proteche2.com
RADISE International
www.radise.net
Syntechs
www.syntechs.com
Southwest
V Tech
www.vtechamerica.com
Earth Surfaces of America, Inc.
www.earthsurfaces.net
US Metropolitan Telecom, LLC
www.usmetrotel.com
Tampa Bay
Ambo Foods, LLC
& Ambo Health, LLC
www.omegacookie.com
www.omega-cure.com
Endorphin, Inc.
www.endorphin.net
Evolutions Healthcare Systems, Inc.
www.ehsppo.com
Innovated Industrial Services, Inc.
www.isp.com
Keytroller, LLC
www.keytroller.com
SmartScience Laboratories, Inc.
www.smartsciencelabs.com
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| GrowFL Company Accolades |
If you have success stories, achievements, honors, awards or certifications that you are proud of, let us know! You could possibly be featured in the next edition of the GrowFL Update!
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| Think Green Finalist: Phoenix Ink |
In the last year the company has won the Green to Gold Award from the Economic Development Corporation, been selected as one of the 50 companies to watch by Grow FL, and they have competed the final roll out of their machines in Office Max. The 1,000 machines will be exclusive to Office Max for one year.
“We try to be environmentally conscious,” says Helgesen. “We are always reusing and upcycling.” All of Scanlon and Helgesen’s products are upcycled (converting products in higher-quality products), not remanufactured.
To read more about Phoenix Ink's achievement, click here.
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The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce
-MediaVista- |
MediaVista Celebrates
Biz of Month Recognition
Media Vista Group was recently recognized as Business of the Month and is one of three Collier County-based Companies to Watch, named by GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida.
To read more about MediaVista and their achievement, head over to The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce's article.
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Millennium Luxury Coaches
~Ribbon Cutting Ceremony~ |
Millennium Luxury Coaches held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. The celebration was long overdue in order to properly recognize their successful year of expansion and remodeling. The event featured tours of the Multi-Million Dollar Luxury RVs, a silent action benefiting the Ronald McDonald House and a raffle for amazing prizes! During the ceremony, GrowFL was mentioned as a contributing factor to their success as a Luxury Coach company.
To read more about Millenium Luxury Coaches, head over to their website.
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~Daytona Beach
News-Journal~
County set to launch Entrepreneurial Academy |
(June 27, 2011) Volusia County's Economic Development Division is getting ready to open an academy for entrepreneurs whose businesses are no longer startups but are not quite ready to make the leap to the next level.
The program, known as the Entrepreneurial Academy, is designed to assist between six and 12 businesses a year, said Phil Ehlinger, the county's economic development director.
Looking ahead, Ehlinger said the academy might someday merge with the state-funded GrowFl program. That program, headquartered at the University of Central Florida, is the official "economic gardening" technical assistance program for Florida. It was created in 2009 to stimulate investment in Florida's economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses -- i.e., those so-called second-stage companies.
To read the rest of The Daytona Beach News-Journal article, please click here.
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~Case Study~
A.G. Findings |
A.G. Findings found the program helpful in navigating the many challenges presented to a growing business. Founded in Fort Lauderdale in 1993, A.G. Findings has transitioned to serving the wireless communication industry by providing innovative mobile accessories and cases. When Alan Kleinman, A.G. Findings' CFO, learned about GrowFL from his banker, he saw it as an opportunity to deal with many of the challenges he faces in growing, second-stage business.
GrowFL's Internet Marketing services analyst explained the nuts and bolts of interactive marketing, search engine optimization and pay-per-click marketing," Alan explained. Since participating in the program...
To read the rest of the article, please click here.
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Interested in joining CEO Roundtables?
Have you ever had to make difficult decisions alone as the sole executive in a growing company without anyone to turn to for advice?
Through GrowFl your company can address the management challenges you’re facing with guidance from business owners like yourself…..a panel of peers who can act as each other’s board and offer inuput and advice that can be immediately implemented.
Click here for CEO Roundtable Brochure.
Space is limited.
For more information contact Steve Quello at squello@ceonexus.com
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Interested in becoming a GrowFL company?
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GrowFL Technical Assistance Program
Limited Spots Available!!! |
The time for second-stage businesses to apply for GrowFL's Technical Assistance Program is now. Only a few openings remain under the current State contract!
For more information and to submit your application, head to the GrowFL website at www.growfl.com or contact Linda Jennings Nelson
at (407) 882-0046.
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| 9th Annual National Economic Gardening Conference |
Reception
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click for photos
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The NEGC reception kicked off at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 19th with wonderful food and company within the walls of the beautiful Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum. Many filled the house and patio with laughter and conversation as the economic development enthusiasts got to know eachother and discussed practices.
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Conference
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click for photos
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The NEGC Conference of 2011 began early the next day at the UCF Rosen School of Hospitality Management. Chris Gibbons, Director of Business/Industry Affairs in Littleton, Colorado, wrote his own Conference Debrief which can be read here. Chris Gibbons commented, "Much of the focus was on high fidelity projects and Florida is the national model. They have done a lot of things right: relationship building, training, staff coaching, CEO round tables and forums, ED partners, publicity, software, budget, political sophistication, leadership, passionate people."
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Watch the Video!
For the Conference Presentations, click here.
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| Upcoming CEO Forum |
Featured Entrepreneur
James P. Crocker
Founder & President of the Waterblasting Group of Companies
August 2, 2011
5:30pm-7:30pm
James P. Crocker, Founder and President of the Waterblasting Group of Companies located in Stuart, Florida is on the rise. Crocker founded the companies in 1988 by starting a pressure cleaning company out of the trunk of his Mom's LTD. In 2001, Crocker was introduced to 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership written by John C. Maxwell. Crocker applied Maxwell's prnciples and others acquired from a passion for personal growth and success. Today the company has grown to $23 million in annual sales. Join James and other regional CEOs on August 2nd to meet, network and learn how a successful business is grown.
For more information click here.
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~ Grow Collier Campaign 2011 ~
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Reaching Out to Collier's Existing Businesses
The Economic Development Council of Collier County (EDC) has always devoted significant time and resources to serving existing businesses, and this summer we want to reach more businesses to celebrate their success and identify ways in which we can help them continue and accelerate their growth, through programs and services offered by the EDC or our partner organizations.
To read more about the Grow Collier campaign, please click here. For more information about Grow Collier and the many advantages to locating or expanding a business in Collier County, contact the EDC of Collier County at (239) 263-8989 or email EDC@eNaplesFlorida.com.
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How do the GrowFL CEO Roundtables connect you with your peers to help grow your company?
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~ GrowFL Spotlight ~
ProTech e², Inc. |
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The ProTech e² Team
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Protech e², Inc., a Monroe County-based electrical and audio/visual company recently was chosen to receive technical assistance through GrowFL, the state-funded Florida Economic Gardening Institute program, and is the first growing business in the Florida Keys to be accepted in to the state’s stimulus program.
“Protech e² is ideal for the program as it has already shown great potential,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, who is executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute and associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization.
ProTech e² services residential and commercial electrical projects utilizing the knowledge and experience of the latest technologies such as energy management, solar energy, energy efficient LED lighting, computer/networking services and home automation (iPad, iPhone, iTouch and other PC devices). They also have the ability to custom design home theaters with multi-zoned sound systems. What truly makes them unique is their ability to accommodate electrical/video/tv/solar power making them the “one stop shop” for your electrical and electronic needs.
Located in Key Largo, FL, ProTech e², Inc.’s main service area is the Upper Keys from Marathon to Key Largo and also includes Ocean Reef and the South Miami area.
GrowFL provided detailed marketing research and experienced business advice at no cost. The program’s goal is to find successful growing 2nd-Stage companies in Florida and to provide them the tools they need to expand and stimulate job growth.
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| BioFlorida's 8th Annual Celebration of Biotechnology |
Local biotech company employees along with university employees, investors, public officials and the general public gathered at Progress Corporate Park on May 26, 2011 to attend the BioFlorida celebration hosted by RTI Biologics. Now in its 8th year, this annual event continues to celebrate and promote the ongoing achievements of Florida's Northeast bioscience community. This year, the Celebration featured over 60 vendors and a new Gallery of Biotech showcase took place inside where attendees met regional biotech company representatives and learned about their activities, products and accomplishments.
For more, visit www.bioflorida.com or click here for the event page.
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Florida High Tech Corridor Council
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Looking for a Comprehensive Resource about
How to Grow Your Business?
The Virtual Entrepreneur Center Web portal (www.flvec.com) is designed to be a one-stop shop library for entrepreneurs who are looking for business resources all in one place.
As an initiative of the Florida High Tech Corridor Coucil in partnership with local economic development organizations, the Virtual Entrepreneur Center offers a catalog of local, regional, state and global business resources organized by county, as well as a directory of businesses that offer services catering to entrepreneurs and small business owners. The flvec.com site complements GrowFL's services by providing entrepreneurs with access to resources for expanding their business.
To read more about the FHTCC's VEC, please click here.
High Tech Companies: Looking for Funds to Develop Your Emerging Technologies?
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council’s primary focus is to foster applied research between universities and their high tech industry partners through its Matching Grants Research Program. The program is managed on the campuses of the University of Central Florida, University of South Florida and University of Florida by a committee of researchers and Council partners.
Since the inception of the program in 1996, the Council has partnered with 350 companies on more than 1,000 research projects in sectors ranging from Agritechnology to Sustainable Energy.
The more than $50 million in funds that have been invested by the Council have been matched by corporate cash and in-kind investments, resulting in a total project value of more than $1 billion. A recent study determined the MGRP has generated an impact of 3,276 jobs downstream.
To learn more about the MGRP process and guidelines at each of the Corridor universities, visit floridahightech.com/research.php.
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| Upcoming Events |
July 13, 2011
Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
"What's In It For You?"
The special guest panel of speakers will be providing a fast-paced look at local agencies who provide low-cost or no-cost services for small businesses.
11:30am - 1pm - Holiday Inn at Kennedy Space Center
For more information or to register, click here
August 11-13, 2011
2011 Florida League of Cities Annual Conference
A conference paced with topical workshops, engaging speakers and chances to network and share ideas with your colleagues from throughout the state.
World Center Marriott - Orlando, FL
8/11: 8am - 7pm
8/12: 7am - 5pm
8/13: 8am - 4pm
For more information, click here.
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| Locate Your Regional GrowFL Representative |
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