from staff
Fifty companies from 18 Florida counties have earned a place in Florida’s inaugural class of “Companies to Watch.”
The six Duval County companies are Aerostar Environmental Services Inc., Analytics Partners, B3 Solutions LLC, Blue Streak Couriers, DGG Taser and Tactical Supply Inc. and Engineered Lining Systems.
E3 Spark Plugs from St. Johns County is also being honored.
The privately held businesses each employ up to 99 employees and have between $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or capital.
The recognition is presented by GrowFL, which is the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida, along with ACG Florida and the Edward Lowe Foundation.
Funding support comes from the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development.
“Firms like these named ‘Companies to Watch’ continue to be the catalyst that is fueling Florida’s emergence from a turbulent national economy,” said Randy Berridge, president of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.
The combined impact of the 50 companies is $419 million in total annual revenue; 1,972 full-time equivalent employees; and 510 new net jobs created compared to 2009.
From 2006-10, the companies generated $1.4 billion in revenue and added 1,153 employees (both in Florida and outside the state), reflecting a 162 percent increase in revenue and a 141 percent increase in jobs for the five-year period.
That translates into a 32 percent annual revenue growth and 28 percent annual growth in the number of employees.
The “Florida Companies to Watch” awards program is sponsored by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council; the Florida Business Incubation Association; Fowler White Boggs; and the University of Central Florida.
It was developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation, a Michigan-based foundation that supports entrepreneurship with a focus on second-stage companies.
Additional sponsors include Gulf Power Co.; Nperspective; the Osceola County Economic Development Department; and the University of South Florida.
The 50 “Florida Companies to Watch” will be honored at an awards celebration Feb. 17 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando.
Jacksonville area companies interested in the program can e-mail Sandy Bartow at the
Jacksonville Regional Cham ber of Commerce at [email protected].
For more information about the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, visit www.GrowFL.com.