Brevard County Companies Among 50 GrowFL 2018 Winners

Entrepreneurial styles, corporate cultures give these second-stage companies competitive advantages.

Space Coast, FL (September 21, 2018) – The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) and GrowFL are pleased to announce that 8-koi, Alluvionic, Inc. and Structural Composites, Inc. are among 50 statewide honorees selected for the 2018 Florida Companies to WatchSM. These companies were selected from more than 500 nominees for the award, hosted by GrowFL, a statewide economic development organization, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation.

The winning company’s management team, competitive market position and strong community involvement were among several factors that put them in contention for the award.

“These stand-out companies are all led by entrepreneurs, and have demonstrated their capacity and intent to grow,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, GrowFL executive director. “They also all have critical intellectual property or a niche position that gives them a competitive edge in their markets,” he said.

“Year after year, GrowFL highlights the talent and economic power of Brevard’s most innovative second-stage companies,” said Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the EDC. “Congratulations to these inspirational honorees.”

“Winning the Florida Companies to Watch is such a pinnacle accomplishment for Alluvionic. We are proud of what we have accomplished in such a short time and are grateful to the entrepreneurial support organizations that have been a part of our path to acceleration. The EDC has been an integral part of our business success and we are very proud to represent Brevard County with this award,” says Wendy Romeu, CEO of Alluvionic.

“This is a strong group of companies that deserve this special recognition given annually to the state’s top second stage companies,” said Dr. Chris Morton, GrowFL Chairman of the GrowFL Advisory Board, CEO of NanoPhotonica and a 2015 Florida Companies to Watch honoree. Second-stage companies are defined as those with 6 to 150 full-time employees and between $750,000 and $100 million in annual revenue. There are many programs and incubators promoting start-up businesses; GrowFL is the only Florida program that focuses exclusively on second-stage companies.

The 50 companies named the 2018 Florida Companies to Watch generated nearly $1 billion in revenue and added nearly 1,000 jobs between 2014 and 2017. Together, the companies project a 50 percent increase in revenue and 40 percent increase in job growth in 2018 compared to 2017.

Companies named to the list will be officially recognized February 9, 2019 at the Straz Performing Arts Center in Tampa, FL. Tickets are on sale now for the awards ceremony. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.growfl.com/flctw18/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 was created in 2009 as an economic development program focused on assisting second-stage growth companies prosper in the state of Florida. By providing strategies, resources and support to second-stage companies for next level growth through Strategic Research, Peer Learning and Leadership Development, GrowFL helps companies overcome obstacles to growth and leads them towards prosperity. Based on the philosophy of Economic Gardening® — to grow existing businesses in a community, region or state — GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, is a critical component to the state’s economic development strategy and Florida’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. GrowFL is a statewide economic development organization certified by the National Center for Economic Gardening through the Edward Lowe Foundation. Learn more at 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.