"As we grow, we will continue to hire Colorado-based mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, software developers, and industrial and experience designers. This grant accelerates our growth and therefore accelerates our need for more skilled individuals."
Recently, M.C. Squares was recognized as one of Colorado's most promising and innovative companies by the state's Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). The recognition comes in the form of a large development grant from the agency's Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant Program.
"The Advanced Industries grants expand Colorado's vital innovation ecosystem that supports our economic growth," said Katie Woslager, Senior Manager – Advanced Industries. "These innovative companies create jobs and leverage additional investment in Colorado, and are even more important as the nation focuses on economic recovery."
37 Colorado companies were approved to receive Proof-of-Concept and Early Stage Capital Grants for a total of $7.7 million. See the full press release here. Colorado OEDIT describes the purpose of the Early Stage Capital and Retention grants: "[To] fund companies commercializing innovative technologies to create viable products that meet a market need and can be created or manufactured in Colorado and exported globally."
In other words, OEDIT recognizes that M.C. Squares makes substantial contributions to the local economy by manufacturing its products in the Denver metro area, sourcing local vendors, and continuing to hire employees from within Colorado's highly-skilled labor pool. And we intend to remain a vital contributor to the local economy as we continue to build on the growth we experienced this past year.
M.C. Squares has experienced incredible growth this year, manufacturing and distributing innovative, eco-friendly office products saving one billion sticky notes from going to landfills. We will use the grant capital to continue expanding manufacturing operations to innovate new product lines while meeting growing consumer demand for existing product families. We will also use the funds to continue the company's impressive growth rate, add more manufacturing capabilities, and add skilled jobs.
"M.C. Squares is developing infrastructure to improve our company's management and scale while providing new capabilities to customers. We transitioned from a product design company in 2018 to a design and manufacturing company in 2019, achieving 30% month over month revenue growth in 2019. As we grow, we will continue to hire Colorado-based mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, software developers, and industrial and experience designers. This grant accelerates our growth and therefore accelerates our need for more skilled individuals." - Anthony Franco, Founder and CEO of M.C. Squares
The explosion in sales allows M.C. Squares to stimulate the local economy by expanding our operations to a 25,000 square foot space in the Denver Metro Area. The larger facility will serve as a shared physical space to bring together design, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and shipping, along with a 1,500 square foot showroom and training center.
We are determined to keep our operations in Colorado to help stimulate the local economy and provide jobs to as many people as possible. By the end of the year, M.C. Squares will have quadrupled in size, bringing the total number of employees to 25.
As this calendar year comes to an end, we hope everyone joins us in looking forward to a much better year in 2021. We intend to keep investing in the Front Range economy, working with local vendors, and hiring more brilliant and talented people who live here.
