Pinellas County Laboratory Selected to Participate in State’s GrowFL Economic Gardening Program

OLDSMAR, Fla. – COLTS Laboratories, a Pinellas County company that performs lens tests for the ophthalmic lens industry, has been selected to participate in the state-funded GrowFL program.

Part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

The program uses strategies such as referral services, CEO peer roundtables and forums to support Florida-based businesses that have reached second-stage status, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.

“When selecting businesses the institute looks for ones that have the potential to be successful,” said O’Neal, who also is associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization.

Founded in 1997 by President John Young, COLTS Laboratories now has a staff of 16 employees.

“We are very proud to be affiliated with GrowFL and to be recognized and listed as a growth company,” Young said.

In addition to testing and certifying lens products – including goggles, face shields and welding helmets – COLTS Laboratories also has expanded into the testing and certification of head protection, and builds and sells proprietary abrasion equipment to buyers in 39 countries.

COLTS is accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation for world-wide accreditation, and also is certified by the Safety Equipment Institute.

The company will receive technical assistance from GrowFL through a number of free services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization.

About COLTS Laboratories:
COLTS Laboratories performs ophthalmic lens tests for the ophthalmic lens industry and certifies lens products used by manufacturers and retailers such as LensCrafters. For more information, visit www.colts-laboratories.com.

About the Florida Economic Gardening Institute:
The Florida Economic Gardening Institute was created by the 2009 Florida Legislature as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Qualified companies must be engaged in the following sectors to receive no-cost technical assistance: Manufacturing; Finance & Insurance Services; Wholesale Trade; Information Industries; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Management Services; and, Administrative & Support Services. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.