Published: Mar 16, 2020
Contact: Ryan Lilly
352-629-8051 X 124
Ryan@OcalaCEP.com
March 16, 2020
For Immediate Release
Now Accepting Applications
2020 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards
Second-Stage Businesses Compete to Earn Prestigious Honor
(City, Fla) – The Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) is proud to announce that GrowFL, Florida’s leading organization in support of second-stage growth companies, is now accepting applications for its annual Florida Companies to Watch® awards program. The program - now in its ninth year - honors 50 select second-stage companies from throughout the state for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and creating new industries throughout Florida.
Eligible applicants must be privately held, second-stage commercial enterprises. Qualifying companies must also be headquartered in the state of Florida, employ between 6 and 150 employees, and earn between $750,000 and $100 million in annual revenue. A selection panel of judges representing areas of finance, technology, entrepreneurship and small business select honorees that have demonstrated past and future growth opportunities, entrepreneurial leadership, product innovation, community responsibility and competitive business practices.
“We are excited to again present this prestigious awards program to honor exemplary second-stage businesses who have become an integral part of Florida’s economic landscape,” says Dr. Tom O’Neal, GrowFL Executive Director. “We received a record number of nominations last year and expect the same in 2020. This, in itself, says a lot about the drive and motivation of entrepreneurs throughout our state.”
“Second-stage companies are a new area of focus for us in the Ocala metro,” said Ryan Lilly, Vice President of the CEP. “We have been honored to have a number of local companies recognized by GrowFL in the past, and we look forward to even more this year.”
GrowFL is a statewide economic development organization and hosts the awards program in partnership with the Edward Lowe Foundation, a national, nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurship through research, recognition and educational programs. The foundation focuses on second-stage companies — those that have moved beyond the startup phase and seek significant, steady growth. GrowFL, in turn, helps second-stage companies in Florida overcome obstacles and leads them towards prosperity by providing strategies, resources and support designed to prepare them for next level success. A typical Florida Companies to Watch class is comprised of businesses who collectively gross over $450 million in annual revenue, add more than 350 new jobs per year, average a 30% increase in earnings and experience almost 20% growth in employees annually.
Applications are open through May 8, 2020. The 10th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2020 at Hard Rock Live, Universal CityWalk, Orlando, Florida. For more information and to apply for Florida Companies to Watch, please visit https://www.growfl.com/flctw20/about-flctw/
GrowFL is generously supported by FloridaMakes, WellsFargo, Orange County, Research Park at Florida Atlantic University, University of South Florida Research & Innovation, The Corridor, SCB Marketing, Traction in Florida, OUC – The Reliable One, Coastal Cloud, Florida Power & Light Company, NanoPhotonica, and WithumSmith+Brown.
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About GrowFL
GrowFL was created in 2009 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. As a result, GrowFL supports the diversification and growth of Florida’s economy. Second-stage Business are growth companies that are headquartered in Florida and currently employ between 6 and 150 employees and generate between $750,000 and $100 million in revenue. The have an intent and desire to grow beyond second-stage. Learn more at GrowFL.com.
About Ocala CEP
The Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership is the one-stop hub for the community’s business attraction, creation, and retention efforts. The CEP’s mission is to be THE catalyst for a prosperous community. Over the last 7 years, the Moving Forward plan has impacted the announced the creation of 7,500 new jobs with wages 16% above the metro average and resulting in a capital investment of nearly $900 million. For more information, visit: www.OcalaCEP.com