APEX Accelerator – A strategy for business retention and market expansion

The EDC’s core mission is to drive new dollars into our local businesses. We work to retain the businesses currently operating in the county and ensure that we also create opportunities to expand our local and regional economy.  

In the early 2000s, we chose an aggressive strategy as one of the organization’s focus areas and took a small portion of a statewide program called the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)—renamed Washington APEX Accelerator in 2023. This program focuses on working with our local businesses to identify, successfully bid for, and deliver on government contracts, primarily at the federal level. We strategized to implement a program with the private sector to drive new dollars and opportunities into the local economy.

Today, the APEX Accelerator program stands as a testament to our remarkable journey of growth and impact. Nearly 20 years ago, it injected several hundred thousand dollars into the region, with the Thurston EDC playing a modest role, serving only a handful of clients. However, our evolution has been profound.

We operate the program statewide, serving a vast network of over 1800 clients and facilitating over 5,000 advising hours annually. The magnitude of our impact is evident in the astounding figure of over $500 million worth of contracts secured statewide by APEX clients last year alone.

Locally, our APEX clients have played a pivotal role in bolstering our regional economy, securing contracts totaling over $109 million. These substantial investments not only infuse much-needed capital into our community but also circulate within it, fostering further growth and expansion.

 Last month, the APEX Accelerator program hosted the state’s largest procurement conference, Alliance Northwest, which attracted over 1,000 attendees. This conference is not just a gathering but a gateway to new business opportunities. 

With over 35 technical speakers and over 150 exhibitors, attendees can significantly expand their business horizons. As attendee John Krull, President of Krull Industries, puts it, “Alliance is a one-stop shop for a small business to learn how to sell to local, state and federal agencies, meet other small business owners, and make connections with agencies.”   

Our APEX Accelerator program has garnered local acclaim and national recognition. Led by Program Director Tiffany Scroggs and her dedicated team, the program employs an innovative approach to forging connections and partnerships, which in turn yield lucrative contract and business prospects.

One notable endeavor that underscores APEX’s local impact is its collaboration with Mortenson Construction, the general contractor overseeing the renovation of the Thurston County courthouse. As the project progresses, early procurement packages for key components such as demolition, structural steel, and exterior enclosure will be available starting April 22.

Mortenson Construction, the principal contractor, is strongly committed to engaging local subcontractors and suppliers, aligning with its ambitious supplier diversity target of 18%. To delve deeper into this $50 million undertaking and meet the project team, join us at the Diversified Business Event on Friday, April 19th, from 12 pm to 1 pm at Thurston County Courthouse Building 1. Register to attend and access further event details here.

The Washington State APEX Accelerator program is a resource and a robust avenue for our local businesses. It’s a proven way to drive new dollars into our local economy and expand regional market opportunities. To tap into this resource, we encourage you to reach out to the EDC team at www.thurstonedc.com or Grady Smith, our lead APEX Accelerator advisor for Thurston County, at [email protected] or https://washingtonapex.org/.