GrowFL earns economic gardening certification
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.