Steel contract adds employees By Patrick Peterson A Cocoa steel fabricating company will need nearly 60 additional workers to build part of a tethered, balloon-based surveillance system that will be used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Coastal Steel Inc., through a contract with Lockheed Martin, will build about 30 percent of the airborne system, versions of which the military has used since 1994. The Persistent Threat Detection System provides soldiers and Marines with an eagle-eye view of surrounding terrain. The company will provide about a third of the device’s 3,200 components. Having hired 35 employees to complete the new contract, the company’s work force stands at 98. About 20 additional workers will be hired. As thousands of Brevard County residents head into unemployment because of the end of the shuttle program, the company expects to hire technicians, welders, assembly workers and machinists and others — some of whom could come from the space industry, said Dale Coxwell, executive vice president of Coastal Steel Inc. and president of Coastal Steel Manufacturing. “It would be nice if we could bring them in from the space center,” he said. The contract was won with the assistance of GrowFL, a state economic organization that provides second-stage businesses with research, consulting and expertise in finding new markets. GrowFL is a product of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, which the state Legislature created in 2009 to stimulate investment in Florida and provide technical assistance for expanding businesses. GrowFL has helped more than 200 second-stage companies across the state and is equipped to assist additional companies through the end of August, when the program’s state funding runs out. It will depend on alternative funding sources in the future. GrowFL provided Coastal Steel with market research, competitive intelligence, social media development, search engine optimization and prospect lists. The 35-year-old, family-owned business, one of Cocoa’s largest employers, was founded by Phillip Coxwell. It has grown to occupy more than 40,000 square feet on 19 acres. The company’s portfolio includes work on several Walt Disney World projects, including the Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest, Magic Kingdom’s Mission Space and the 90-foot-tall Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat at Hollywood Studios. The company plans to grow in the ride/show and aerospace industries, as well as within the industrial and commercial sectors. Contact Peterson at 321-242-3673 or [email protected].

Small companies need a sound plan to grow

Bob Swindell of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance says economic development plans like GrowFL are essential to creating a vibrant business community. By Cindy Kent  April 29, 2011 Who: Bob Swindell What: Swindell is president and chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. He spearheads the state’s economic development initiative, GrowFL, for the Broward County region. GrowFL , launched in 2009, is Florida’s Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program designed to assist second stage companies address the gap between where the company is now and where it needs to be to grow. For-profit, existing second-stage companies with over 11 employees have to meet standards and go through an application process to qualify for the GrowFL program. The key is to create a favorable environment so that businesses thrive, says Swindell. “In turn, they employ people and experience exponential growth and cycle up,” he said. “Everyone benefits,” said Swindell. The back story: A second-stage company is one that has survived the start-up phase and wants to ramp up services, production and productivity A second-stage company understands its financials, but still has obstacles ahead such as transitioning from an entrepreneurial culture to a more corporate structure, increasing sales and fulfilling orders. For instance, qualified participants partner with GrowFL team members to review core business strategies. They apply market research toward strategies to increase prospects and drive sales. They develop social media and Internet strategies to optimize reach. GrowFl experts facilitate business introductions and referrals. “GrowFL is about reputation building,” said Swindell. Small businesses that set roots in a community want to see a template of proactive regional efforts, like GrowFL, that are committed to their success, says Swindell. On the other hand, “the business owner has to be as committed as the resource,” said Swindell. The take away: Position your company for growth and sustainability by strategically utilizing community resources, collaborating just as you would with any business partner, says Swindell. Solid business opportunities attract skilled educated workers, create the local talent pool and generate a high wage job market, says Swindell. At the end of the day, it’s about building collaborative relationships, says Swindell. Knowledge Readiness. Some business owners think their business is poised as a second-stage company because it meets criteria, but for one crucial aspect — the business owner has to be mentally ready, says Swindell. “If you have too much of your focus grounded on the running your business and can’t take the time to look up to see the horizon, it’s going to be difficult to find the time to be committed to the program and participate effectively,” he said. Think outside the business. Industry, business associations, state and regional agencies provide resources to companies that want to level up their management team or pace expansion with internal controls. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, says Swindell. Details: Florida Economic Gardening Institute 407-823-6384. Email [email protected] www.GrowFL.com Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance www.gflalliance.org By Cindy Kent, Sun Sentinel, [email protected] or 954-356-4662. Follow her on Twitter,com @mindingyourbiz.

Milestone for GrowFL Sara K. Clarke

April 24, 2011 The Florida Economic Gardening Institute said its initiative to help second-stage businesses has accepted its 200th company. GrowFL, which provides market research and other tools to help companies already past the start-up phase grow to the next level, said those 200 companies include 55 businesses in Orange and Seminole counties. The institute is a statewide effort, based in Central Florida, established in 2009 by the Florida Legislature. GrowFL said the 200 companies that have received assistance generated $860 million in revenue last year and employed 4,725 people. To qualify for the program’s no-cost technical assistance, companies must be engaged in one of the following sectors: manufacturing; finance and insurance services; wholesale trade; information industries, professional, scientific and technical services; management services; or administrative and support services. Additional information is available at GrowFL.com.

By Valerie Whitney

 

April 23, 2011

DELAND — The economy keeps trying to knock the “sale” out of John Cosker’s boat company. Cosker, president of DeLand-based Mystic Powerboats, temporarily closed the doors of his manufacturing business before heading to the Miami International Boat Show in 2009. Then fate stepped in and he sold one of his boats, which range in price from $1 million to $4 million. Other orders started rolling in and by year’s end, Mystic sold and/or delivered six boats and increased the size of its workforce to 23 employees, up from six before the temporary shutdown. Business remained strong when 2010 rolled around, but things changed halfway through the year and sales slowed again. Today, Mystic employs 10 workers. Cosker, however, said his business is in better shape than it was two years ago. Mystic has several custom projects in the works and has been doing engineering work for other companies. “We can survive on four cats (catamaran sales) a year,” said Cosker, whose business is one of several in Volusia County that have received technical assistance from the state’s “GrowFL” economic gardening program. According to the program’s website, GrowFL was created in 2009 to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. The Florida Economic Gardening Institute, which coordinates the program, is headquartered at the University of Central Florida under contract with the state’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. The aid provided by the program includes advanced research to help businesses evaluate their markets, define core business strategies and optimize Internet marketing. To date, GrowFL has helped 200 businesses statewide. Collectively, those companies generated $860 million in revenue and employed 4,725 workers in 2010. Cosker said GrowFL officials helped steered his company toward taking part in a state-funded training program for new workers. It also prompted him to take a closer look at other markets to pursue for his business. “A lot of the contact they found were people I already knew,” he said. Still it was helpful to learn about other countries he might explore for business. He is now actively pursuing potential customers in Brazil and his workers this past week were putting the finishing touches on a racing boat for a businessman from Sweden. Jim Gibson, president of Adsil Inc. in Daytona Beach, said GrowFL helped his company reap direct and indirect benefits. Adsil manufactures clear, inorganic, siloxane coatings that protect a wide array of different surfaces. “We got a list of targeted customers and sources,” Gibson said. He added that he also learned through GrowFL about another state economic development program that helps businesses with exporting. Larry Lucas, owner of Flowers Central Inc. in Daytona Beach, gave mixed reviews to GrowFL. “I know it is a good program and they are doing a good job,” said Lucas, who signed up to receive assistance last year. He was looking for help with locating new clients for his wholesale business. “It just didn’t work for us at this time,” he said. Linda Jennings Nelson, a spokeswoman for the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, said Flowers Central has been invited back for a second consultation with GrowFL advisers. “Maybe both sides missed the mark (initially). The jump- start team may have taken too broad of an approach” in that instance,” Nelson said. GrowFL helped Advanced Manufacturing & Power Systems in DeLand qualify for a state economic development low-interest loan to help train the new employees that included a welder, electrician and assembler. The company has grown from 30 employees two years ago to 37. “Whether or not you utilize the information, it forces you to look at the way you do things, otherwise they won’t let you sleep until you do,” Advanced Manufacturing owner Joe Scofield told the News-Journal in an interview earlier this year.

Free programs help small Jacksonville businesses take next step

April 20, 2011 By Kevin Turner When Teresa Meares took over DGG Taser and Tactics Supply in 2006, the former St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office patrol sergeant knew much about policies and procedures. She had no problem defining how her company placed and filled orders and dealt with billing issues. But once the company was past its startup phase with a new store and law enforcement contracts from agencies throughout Florida and Georgia, it was time to focus for growth, she said. But the question was how? For that, Meares, DGG president, and her husband, Gary, its vice president, turned to GrowFL, a Legislature-funded program. GrowFL this year aims to help 30 qualified Jacksonville-area small businesses that are past their initial startup phase but facing sophomore, or second-stage, issues. So far, seven qualified area businesses, including DGG, have graduated or are still in the program. “Business planning, management and hiring – all those I’m really good at,” Meares said. “Marketing was where we really needed to take it to the next level.” The program helps second-stage businesses by giving them a valuable commodity that’s otherwise hard for small business to come by – the benefits of advice and critiques from experts and tips to getting grants and loans if needed. It typically takes a business from four to six weeks to go through the program, which is free to participating businesses. It’s in its second year. Each company is assigned a group of experts that reviews its operations and gives industry-specific feedback on how to grow revenues and hire more employees. According to the GrowFL website, the program created 400 new jobs at 1,000 Florida companies in its first year. There’s more help for the companies through another, local, program, GrowJax, which is also one of six regional referral hubs around the state for GrowFL. Administered through the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, GrowJax refers businesses to GrowFL and adds a CEO lecturing forum and peer mentoring for local second-stage businesses. GrowJAX co-chairman Vince McCormack and co-chairwoman Gwen Griggs said the program is being administered in the interest of making Jacksonville friendly to entrepreneurs and their small businesses. Don Arch, president of another GrowFL graduate company, Engineered Lining Systems, said the lessons learned from the program have been valuable. The Westside Jacksonville company rehabilitates municipal and structural piping systems using cutting-edge technologies to place new piping inside old ones. “I’d say we’ve grown by four or five employees based on our involvement with GrowFL,” he said. “It’s been very beneficial to us. We’d like to see more companies involved in it.” The customization of each participating company’s program is key to what makes it work so well, Griggs said. “It’s one-on-one,” she said. Meares said her company now is advertising in targeted magazines and websites and is working on landing contracts with security companies. Her company has grown from selling Tasers via contract to law enforcement agencies to selling body armor, duty gear and firearms to other agencies as well. And that’s been thanks to the marketing help she’s gotten from the state program, she said. “I’m able to educate myself,” she said. “They helped me focus. When I created a flier, they gave me some advice on how to reach the customer. They helped me market to them. That was really awesome.”

3/31/2011 10:00 AM – 31 min Our guest this week is Fran Korosec, Director of Client Services for the Florida Economic Gardening Institute (GrowFL). Learn how this public/private partnership is helping to support entrepreneurship and create jobs in Florida. Fran Korosec is the Director of Client Services for The Florida Economic Gardening Institute (GrowFL) at the University of Central Florida. Fran oversees all aspects of the GrowFL program, including administration and outreach, technical assistance, CEO forums and roundtables. Fran brings 25 years of experience in management consulting, integration services, technology development, & manufacturing. He is a seasoned executive with a unique combination of business development/sales, program management, and technical expertise. Economic gardening is an entrepreneurial economic development tool that embraces strategies to grow existing businesses in a community, region or state. By assisting entrepreneurs, economic developers are planting the seeds for a stronger economy and supportive environments where companies can thrive and prosper. To listen, visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/edtoday/2011/03/31/florida-economic-gardening-institute-growfl-impacting-floridas-economy.

3/17/2011 10:00 AM – 31 min Steve Quello is this week’s guest on Economic Development Today, brought to you by the Economic Development Foundation. Steve is founder and President of CEO Nexus, a market research firm serving CEOs and related senior management of second-stage businesses. He designs and manages market development programs, including PeerSpectives, a CEO Peer Learning Network delivered to Florida’s businesses through GrowFL, Florida’s Economic Gardening Institute. Economic gardening is an entrepreneurial economic development tool that embraces strategies to grow existing businesses in a community, region or state. By assisting entrepreneurs, economic developers are planting the seeds for a stronger economy and supportive environments where companies can thrive and prosper. To listen, visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/edtoday/2011/03/17/economic-gardening–growing-your-own.

Orlando Business Journal Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 1:19pm EDT

The Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida and its GrowFL program have been designated as a certified economic gardening program by the National Center for Economic Gardening, which is affiliated with the Edward Lowe Foundation. The state-funded Florida Economic Gardening Institute is the first organization in the United States to receive certification in the center’s top-ranking Level 3, representing the highest engagement of economic gardening principles that is attainable. “Economic Gardening is a concept that takes an entrepreneurial approach to job creation by focusing on helping existing growth-oriented, second-stage companies accelerate growth,” said Mark Lange, executive director of the Edward Lowe Foundation based in Cassopolis, Mich. “What we’ve seen in Florida is an incredible network of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute’s statewide partners working together to support and foster the growth of second-stage companies on a level that has never been achieved before.” In its first year, GrowFL helped entrepreneurial growth companies create at least 418 jobs throughout the state. The Edward Lowe Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurship through research, recognition and educational programs.

Tech assistance program ‘grows’ businesses

By Bob Koslow, Business writer February 18, 2011 12:05 AM DELAND — GrowFL, the state’s first attempt at “economic gardening,” helped create 418 direct jobs last year, including three light manufacturing positions here at Advanced Manufacturing & Power Systems. “I’m impressed with the effort,” said company owner Joe Scofield. “I filled out the paperwork and then nothing for two weeks and then I got a call on a Thursday for a conference call on Friday. They asked me what they could do and then barraged me all weekend. I couldn’t keep up with the e-mails and calls as they went to work for me.” An e-mail about a year ago from Bob Turk, DeLand’s economic development manager, cued Scofield to the new program aimed at providing technical assistance to existing companies poised to expand beyond their initial stages. “We try and keep our businesses up to speed on what’s available to them,” Turk said. “These resources are important to businesses, but you never know how they’re going to work out and how they meet with the business’s cycle and the type assistance they need at that point.” Scofield was looking for assistance with the company’s Web presence and new customer development. The goal was to expand the business, which is primarily making UL-certified aboveground and underground fuel storage tanks and generator enclosures that meet hurricane storm stress standards. Customers include wastewater treatment facilities, hospitals and vacation resorts with casinos — almost anyone who needs a reliable and immediate source of backup power. Associated jobs include generator trailer repair, installation assistance, fuel tank maintenance and polishing. It also builds aluminum stairs and platforms and is a manufacturer’s distribution representative for several companies. Scofield started Advanced Manufacturing & Power Systems in 1999 by leasing a 40,000 square-foot building on Bennett Drive in the DeLand Business and Industrial Park. The facility was bought in 2001 for $1.1 million and a 2.4-acre lot next door was bought in 2005 for $140,300. Partner Randy Weimer oversees sales. Then the economy sank. “Like everyone else, our whole industry was adversely impacted. We’re based on long-term planning, where projects are going to be developed. When projects are put on hold, it’s like a food chain, it hurts us all down the line,” Scofield said. The company survived by being able to maintain the equipment it’s installed in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and by adding some new business in the Caribbean where foreign investment had not slowed as bad as domestic investment, Scofield said. The Legislature in 2009 created the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida and gave it $1.4 million for GrowFL to provide small and existing companies with a wide array of technical expertise. It’s the alternative to more costly recruitment efforts and higher risks of helping startups. Over a weekend, and the following two weeks, Scofield was inundated with questions and suggestions. “They analyzed what we were doing and what we might tweak and were able to search databases I did not know about for potential new customers,” Scofield said. “It was helpful getting an outside look at what we were doing and how we come across from the outside.” GrowFL also assisted Advanced Manufacturing qualify for a state economic development low-interest loan to help train the new employees that included a welder, electrician and assembler. The company has grown from 30 employees two years ago to 37. GrowFL’s technical experts are provided by its many partners, including the Florida High Tech Corridor Council that includes many universities and institutions between Daytona Beach and Tampa. The council reviewed the GrowFL initial year and reported 1,458 jobs were directly and indirectly created by the $1.4 million investment. The jobs have an estimated economic impact of $280 million. “The result of this program demonstrated how economic gardening can be used as a part of a successful economic development strategy to grow jobs and strengthen the small business landscape,” said Randy Berridge, council president. GrowFL was given $2 million this year. Scofield recommends companies look into using its resources. “Whether or not you utilize the information, it forces you to look at the way you do things, otherwise they won’t let you sleep until you do,” he said laughing.

Growing second-stage businesses statewide have the opportunity to join an elite group of nationally recognized companies as part of Florida Companies to Watch, an awards program that celebrates second-stage companies throughout the state of Florida. Florida Companies to Watch is presented by GrowFL and the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation. Sponsors for the event include the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Florida Business Incubation Association and the University of Central Florida. Companies to Watch is a unique awards program developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation to honor second-stage companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace, exhibit innovative products or processes, or otherwise make those companies “worth watching.” Companies to Watch operates statewide in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin and the northeastern region of California. “We encourage second-stage companies to apply for this outstanding program,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute and associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization. “Being selected for the Florida Companies to Watch awards program provides growing businesses the credibility and recognition that distinguish them among their competitors.” To be eligible for the award, a company must be a privately held, commercial enterprise that is currently in a stage of growth and past the start-up phase. Qualifying companies must also be headquartered in the state of Florida, employ between six and 99 employees, and have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue. Companies in all industries are invited to apply. A selection panel of judges representing areas of economic development, banking, entrepreneurship and small business look for evidence of fast and/or high growth in employment rates and revenue. In addition, Florida Companies to Watch award recipients also demonstrate special strengths and traits that stand out from the competition including entrepreneurial leadership, product innovation, social/community responsibility and competitive business practices. Companies may apply directly to the program, and professionals who work with qualifying companies such as attorneys, accountants, bankers, public relations representatives and economic development professionals are also encouraged to nominate businesses they believe should be recognized. The deadline to nominate a second-stage company is September 17, 2010. All companies vying for the award must submit an application, which will be accepted until October 8, 2010. The companies selected as 2011 Florida Companies to Watch will be recognized at a special ceremony set for Thursday, February 17, 2011 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla. In addition to the recognition of being named a Florida Companies to Watch, winners have the opportunity to participate in a leaders retreat attended by Companies to Watch award recipients from other states and held at the Edward Lowe Foundation’s Big Rock Valley property in southwestern Michigan. For more information, visit www.CompaniestoWatch.org or email [email protected]. About the Edward Lowe Foundation Established in 1985, the Edward Lowe Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurship through research, recognition and educational programs, which are delivered through entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs). The foundation focuses on second-stage companies—those that have moved beyond the start-up phase and seek significant, steady growth. For more information, visit www.EdwardLowe.org.