Press Releases
Grand River Joins 2011 Class of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch
Aug 02, 2011 — Ann Arbor, MI
E-commerce Developer Recognized Among State’s Leading Second-stage Entrepreneurs.
Grand River, a leading e-commerce developer, was recently recognized as one of 2011’s ’50 Companies to Watch’ at the Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB) event. The annual event showcases the important contributions of successful small businesses across the state of Michigan.
Companies to Watch is a unique awards program developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation designed to shine a spotlight on second-stage companies. Each year the foundation honors 50 second-stage Michigan companies that it feels are deserving of attention in the years to come.
“We are honored to be recognized by the State and look forward to expanding here in Michigan,” said Scott Robertson, partner and co-founder of Grand River. “Our growth has been fueled and supported by a dedicated team that calls Michigan home. While our clients are located across the US, we find talented, hardworking people with a strong work ethic right here in our own backyard.”
Companies to Watch is a unique awards program developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation designed to shine a spotlight on second-stage companies. Each year the foundation honors 50 second-stage Michigan companies that it feels are deserving of attention in the years to come.
Recognizing that many second-stage companies are not eligible for traditional awards programs, Companies to Watch was designed to seek out businesses from a wide range of industries and represent all areas of the state. In addition to being evaluated on past growth and projected success, applicants are also judged according to their special strengths. These strengths revolve around a company's innovative products and business practices, special use of technology, work within their community and more.
“These companies are powerhouses for job creation,” said Jennifer Deamud, managing partner of MCSB. “From 2007 through 2010, this year’s winning firms generated $891 million in revenue and added 633 employees, reflecting a 66 percent increase in revenue and 67 percent increase in jobs for that four-year period. That’s 19 percent growth in both revenue and in employees,” Deamud added.
To be eligible for consideration as a Michigan 50 Company to Watch, firms must be a privately held, commercial enterprise that is currently in a stage of growth and past the start-up phase. Qualifying companies must also be headquartered in the state of Michigan, employ between six and 99 employees, and have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue. Companies in all industries are invited to apply.
A complete list of the businesses recognized at the 2011 Michigan Celebrates Small Business event is here: http://michigan.companiestowatch.org/index.ctw?page=honorees&honoreeYear=2011.
About Michigan 50 Companies to Watch
Michigan 50 Companies to Watch is a unique awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation and presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. The awards honor second-stage companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace, or exhibit innovative products or processes that make those companies “worth watching.” More information on the Edward Lowe Foundation is available at: http://www.edwardlowe.org.
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