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April 20, 2006 
Four
Midland companies received the prestigious distinction of being named one
of Michigan’s “50 Companies to
Watch” at today’s Michigan Celebrates Small Business event in Lansing. ÆGIS
Environments, The Apothecary Shoppe Pharmacies, Dendritech, Inc. and Pilgrim
Technology were Midland’s
recipients. The event is the state’s
premier awards ceremony for entrepreneurs and the
supporters of small business.
“Midland Tomorrow is proud to congratulate
these portfolio companies and to assist them with their future growth,” said Scott Walker, Midland Tomorrow
executive director.
According
to the Edward Lowe Foundation, the 50 Companies to Watch awards is a unique
program designed to spotlight Michigan’s
second-stage companies that generate the bulk of new, sustainable jobs and
are a powerful economic force underpinning the high quality of life most
Americans enjoy. To be considered a second-stage company, an enterprise
must be privately held; be past the start-up stage; be facing issues of
growth, not survival; employ six to 99 full-time equivalent employees,
including the owner; and have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual
revenue or working capital in place from investors or grants. In addition,
they must be headquartered in Michigan and demonstrate the intent and
capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, exceptional
entrepreneurial leadership, sustainable competitive advantage, or other
notable factors that showcase the company's success.
ÆGIS
Environments is the world leader in antimicrobial technologies with
support centers in every region of the globe. Their ÆGIS Microbe Shield(TM)
licenses Dow Corning technology to contain an antimicrobial agent within a
silane coating. ÆGIS Environments invested almost $2 million in a new
14,000 square-foot facility that houses offices for 24 employees and new
state-of-the-art laboratory space. Eight new employees are expected to join
ÆGIS over the next two years.
The
Apothecary Shoppe, LLC, is an independently owned and operated
pharmacy headquartered in Midland.
The Apothecary Shoppe began operations in 2000 under its proprietors, Kevin
and Amy Roeder, and began with a staff of six employees. It now employs
nearly 75 full- and part-time employees, offering prescription medications,
medical supplies, over-the-counter products and compounded pharmaceuticals.
In addition, from 2003 to 2005, the Apothecary Shoppe’s payroll increased from $240,000 to $2
million and sales increased from $3.6 million to $25 million.
Dendritech,
Inc. is a specialty polymer company focused on the development
of dendritic, hyperbranched and tailor-made polymer products. Dendritech is
one of Michigan’s few thriving
nanotechnology companies. Dendritech operates a multimillion-dollar
manufacturing plant on a 10-acre site. Dendritech is staffed with seven
full- and part-time experienced personnel from the chemical industry in
research, manufacturing and business development. Their 2004 sales were in
excess of $1 million.
Pilgrim
Technology, LLC, was founded in 2002 as a technology consulting company.
Pilgrim is one of the few new Department of Defense suppliers in Michigan,
involved in advanced research and development for the United States Army.
In addition to their work with wireless communications for the Army,
Pilgrim does wireless engineering across a variety of platforms. Pilgrim
has engineering expertise in standards management, information security,
systems engineering, application development and architecture and design
planning.
The
Michigan Celebrates Small Business event is a cooperative effort of the
U.S. Small Business Administration, the Small Business Association of
Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Small
Business and Technology Development Center, and the Edward Lowe Foundation.
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