WWU's CEV program to honor successful second-stage companies

Western Washington University is launching a new statewide recognition campaign called Washington Companies to Watch to honor outstanding second-stage businesses.

Washington is the seventh state to become associated with the national venture created several years ago by the Edward Lowe Foundation in Michigan. The awards program is designed to publicize, encourage and inspire winning companies. The foundation already works with businesses in Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Indiana and Colorado.

Tom Dorr, director of Western Washington University’s Center for Economic Vitality in Bellingham, believes the watch list should promote and attract community support for second-stage companies that show high performance in the marketplace, an outstanding focus on innovative products or processes, and an overall growth record worth watching.