FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Brian Baluta
Director of Communications and Partner Relations
(321) 638-2000
BBaluta@SpaceCoastEDC.org

2020 GrowFL Florida Companies
to Watch finalists announced

Brevard County among community with
finalists competing to earn prestigious honor

 

SPACE COAST, Fla. (September 9, 2020) – The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) and GrowFL are pleased to announce that six companies from Brevard County were among the first round of the 2020 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch finalists. The awards program – now in its tenth year – honors impressive second-stage companies from throughout the state for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout Florida. The 2020 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards celebration is brought to you by Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation.

Together, the 2020 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Finalists represent nearly 3,000 jobs and generate $670 million in revenue. These companies, all of which are “worth watching,” anticipate a growth of 13 percent in revenue and 23 percent in employment by the end of 2020.

The six Brevard County companies among the 2020 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch finalists are:

  • 3SPACE Inc.
  • Artemis IT
  • Entech Innovative Engineering
  • Met-Con, Inc.
  • Rock Paper Simple
  • Space Coast Intelligent Solutions, Inc.

“In addition to attracting and retaining major employers, we are cultivating a business environment on the Space Coast where homegrown companies can startup, grow and thrive,” said EDC President and CEO Lynda Weatherman. “Congratulations to all the finalists, particularly EDC investors 3SPACE, Artemis IT, and Rock Paper Simple.”

“We are pleased and gratified to be recognized as finalists for the 2020 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch. It reflects the hard work and dedication our employees exhibit every day, and is a direct result of our relationship with the EDC,” said Mike Gunn, 3SPACE CEO.

“We are honored to be included among the impressive list of companies selected by GrowFL as 2020 Florida Companies to Watch finalists,” says Artemis IT CEO, Travis Proctor. “Our team works relentlessly to deliver on our mission to make I.T. work for our growing list of customers throughout Central Florida, and we are grateful for the support of organizations such as GrowFL and the EDC as they foster economic growth in our community.”

“Our team is dedicated to constantly innovating how we create value for our clients, our team and our community,” said Head Honcho of Rock Paper Simple Joshua Adams. “Being a finalist among so many awesome organizations as a Florida Company to Watch means that dedication is recognized and that means a lot to this team. I could not be prouder of the fantastic team I get to work with every day.”

The finalists were selected from more than 400 nominations and are now in the running to be named a 2020 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honoree. If selected as an honoree, these exemplary second-stage companies will join the 450 honorees that have been recognized since 2011.

“We applaud these first-round finalists who have proved themselves to be stand out companies in the state. They have, and continue to, demonstrate the resiliency and tenacity that comes along with being an entrepreneur. We know this year hasn’t been easy, so we’re excited to recognize our states admirable business owners and their teams. I have a feeling they’re just getting started,” says Dr. Tom O’Neal, GrowFL Founder.

The Finalists represent a unique group of scalable, high-growth enterprises that are already located within Florida. These high growth enterprises are an important segment of our economy and their numbers have been steadily increasing. According to the Kauffman Foundation, “entrepreneurship is not a monolithic phenomenon, and it includes many moving parts. Creating new businesses is a different economic activity from running small businesses, which in turn is different from growing businesses.” GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch recognizes the different approach needed to successfully grow and scale a business and celebrates those that are working to achieve this goal.

Companies to Watch was developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation as a unique way to recognize and honor second-stage companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace with innovative strategies and processes. In addition to evaluating past growth and projected success, applicant companies are judged according to their special strengths and impact in their markets, communities and within the state – thus deeming them “worth watching.”

The 2020 honorees will be recognized on November 12, 2020 at 6pm during a live broadcast from Orlando, Florida. For more information visit www.GrowFL.com/flctw20/about-flctw/.

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About the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast
The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) is dedicated to attracting new business and investment and expanding existing industry throughout the Space Coast, influencing change on government laws and regulations affecting economic development, promoting the Space Coast to encourage new investment, supporting efforts of Space Coast military installations, and relaying new programs and procedures to assist manufacturing and high-tech companies. The EDC is a private, not-for-profit coalition whose stakeholders are business leaders committed to the economic growth and stability of Florida’s Space Coast. Visit www.SpaceCoastEDC.org.

About  GrowFL
GrowFL  is dedicated to support and accelerate the growth of second-stage companies throughout Florida, by providing their leaders focused, efficient, and timely access to resources they deem important, such as connections with other second-stage company leaders, and to professional organizations whose expertise, experience, and products lead to the second-stage company’s continued growth and prosperity resulting in diversification and growth of Florida’s economy.  Second-stage growth companies have at least 10 employees and a $1 million in revenue and possess an intent and desire to grow beyond second stage.  Website:  www.GrowFL.com.

About  the Edward Lowe Foundation
Established in 1985, the Edward Lowe Foundation is a national, 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 startup phase and seek significant, steady growth. In addition, the foundation has a second mission of land stewardship and is committed to preserving the natural resources and historically significant structures at Big Rock Valley, its 2,000-acre home in southwest Michigan.  Website: https://EdwardLowe.org.