There’s a cyclical balance to success. We face a new challenge, reach out for help and advice, succeed, and then offer our experience to the next generation. The Thurston EDC’s Center for Business & Innovation is a startup training, resources, growth, support, and expansion hub. They pair entrepreneurs with mentors, programs, and networking opportunities every step of the way. For those looking into government contracting and federal clients, their Washington APEX Accelerator does just that. And businesses like Lacey’s FASTSIGNS show just how successful the partnership can be.

As a woman- and veteran-owned business, owner Grace Kendall and her franchise team started working with the Washington APEX Accelerator shortly after the program launched in 2006. She recalls her first contract was “a rocky start, but it taught me the information and requirements needed to get fully qualified.”

“I was green at the beginning,” Kendall admits, “being a woman- and veteran-owned doesn’t get the job, but it gets people to look my way.”

She praises the EDC’s team who have helped her over the years.

“Navigating my first contract proved challenging because the process was new and hard to understand. Tiffany at PTAC (now APEX) gave me the confidence and guidance that transformed it into a lucrative opportunity, yielding a remarkable $98,000. I am so grateful to Tiffany and her dedicated staff, whose unwavering support has been instrumental throughout the years.”

What started as smaller-scale contracts with Joint Base Lewis-McChord has now grown into signage for entire apartment complexes, digital signage on base, and even highway signs with their unique reflectivity requirements for driver safety.

Kendall appreciates that the APEX program offers “a continuous partnership in its assistance with growth, support, and confidence-building and isn’t just a one-time thing.” She has also participated with the EDC’s Washington Center for Women in Business, ScaleUp Business Training, the SCORE program, and the Lacey/Olympia Small Business Development Center.

With their support, plenty of hard work, and a mindset of continuous learning, Kendall has grown her company exponentially over the years. She was recently honored as a FASTSIGNS High Volume Elite Club Member, and the team will fly to a Florida conference for their award.

Kendall shares time and experience with others at the EDC to give back. She’s currently the outgoing Vice President and incoming President of the Board of Directors for the Center for Business & Innovation and constantly advises those starting out—or even just thinking about it—to “get some training from the CB&I, you won’t regret it. We can be over-confident or stuck and not want to learn. But things and technology change, which can help the learning journey.”

With recent growth, Kendall is reinvesting in her business. She added a direct color system printer to help with architectural and ADA-compliant Braille-enabled signage, a writer/engraver tool, a second all-purpose printer, and a production table. Signs that used to take 20 minutes now take only two, thanks to the new additions. She’s also branching out into electrical subcontracting.

“The Washington APEX Accelerator and Washington Center for Women in Business helped get me started and helped me ride that bike,” says Kendall. She hopes to continue spreading the word with other local small businesses and franchise owners in our community.

Learn more about FASTSIGNS here.