Brevard County EDC Celebrates Innovation, Manufacturing Industry Award Winners

By  //  January 25, 2016

Made In Brevard showcase

The EDC presented the Innovation Company of the Year to Larsen Motorsports, Inc located in Palm Bay, Florida. (Larsen Motorsports image)
The EDC presented the Innovation Company of the Year to Larsen Motorsports, Inc., which is located in Palm Bay, Florida. (Larsen Motorsports image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) announced their 2016 recipients of the Innovation Company of the Year and Manufacturer of the Year awards.

The winners were announced recently during the EDC’s Investor Update Meeting where companies participating in the innovative Made In Brevard showcase exhibited locally made products.

Created to honor local manufacturers, these awards recognize companies who are committed to the community and bringing new opportunities through job creation and capital investment.

Innovation Company of the Year: This award recognizes a business who has demonstrated innovation in one or more of the following areas in the past year: product or service offerings, manufacturing processes or productivity, sales and marketing approach and/or management of resources – resulting in increased investment.

Elaine Larsen
Elaine Larsen

The EDC presented this award to Larsen Motorsports, Inc., which is located in Palm Bay, Florida.

Larsen Motorsports is a multi-team exhibition jet racing company. The company’s goal is to bring new talent to drag racing whether in the driver’s seat, design, engineering, build or maintenance of these jet powered vehicles. Larsen Motorsports’ Development Program brings talent from around the world to share in their love of drag racing.

Founders Chris and Elaine Larsen accepted the award on behalf of the company.

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“Our passion is to create a unique hands-on training experience that will inspire the next generation of learners into STEM related majors,” said Chris Larsen.

“With a unique business focus, a niche home as the anchor of Florida Tech’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Design (CAMID), and a team of innovators creating new and inventive product designs, we are honored to be a part of this business community and appreciate the EDC’s recognition as an innovator making a difference.”

Paragon Plastics
The EDC presented the Manufacturer of the Year award to Paragon Plastics, which is relocating its headquarters from Cocoa and doubling their size in a new facility in Titusville within the year. (Paragon Plastics video image)

Manufacturer of the Year: This award recognizes a Brevard County manufacturer that has made or announced a significant investment in the County through job creation and/or retention, new capital investment, and new construction.

The EDC presented this award to Paragon Plastics, which is relocating its headquarters from Cocoa and doubling their size in a new facility in Titusville within the year.

Lynda Weatherman
Lynda Weatherman

“It is important for us to celebrate and recognize the very fabric of our manufacturing and innovation communities with this annual Made in BrevardShowcase,” said Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.

“As these companies work day in and day out, they are helping to raise our community profile and maintain the Space Coast’s position as the home of the next generation of technology savvy leaders.”

Paragon Plastics, a leading custom plastic thermoforming company, was selected for its focus on major growth.

The company is investing $3 million in the construction of a new building, plans to purchase $300,000 in new equipment and increase their current employment by 30 percent.

The company began producing vacuum-formed flanges and AC transition boxes more than 20 years ago for the marine industry out of a small garage, and today, they are known as a strong force in the thermoforming and fabrication field.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to be a part of Titusville’s revitalization,” said David Trout, president and chief executive officer of Paragon Plastics.

“Our business focused in on the Spaceport Commerce Park, which has proven important throughout the planning and operational stages. We thank the EDC for recognizing our strategic growth and sharing it with the business community through events like this one.”

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