Washington state lawmakers should fund support for startups

By Rep. Maralyn Chase and John Vicklund

Special for the Puget Sound Business Journal

Published January 30, 2009

Washington state is home to some of the greatest innovative minds in the country. We have been recognized as such by the Kauffman Foundation, a private nonpartisan research group, which named us as one of the top five states for innovation. That same foundation also noted that Washington holds the second most patents per capita.

We shouldn't be surprised by these facts. Instead we should recognize them as an opportunity to "innovate" ourselves out of the current downward economic spiral. The Legislature is currently considering one way to do that, and they need to move ahead with it.

The process for aiding innovation is a new program called "Washington Grows." Developed in partnership with Washington Manufacturing Services (WMS) and economic development leaders in Clallam County, Washington Grows is a new model for economic "gardening" that takes the natural talent and ideas in our own back yard and turns them into viable commercial opportunities.

For too long Washington has borne the stigma of being the state with the most business startups - and the most business failures. Good ideas are in no short supply here. What has been missing is a proven method for vetting those ideas and then connecting the entrepreneur or small business that owns them with a network of dedicated business professionals who can shepherd them toward commercialization. Washington Grows does just that.

Originally developed in answer to the need for top-line growth with our state's 7,400 manufacturers, Washington Grows was created to assist companies identify new "in-house" products and services. It has now evolved to include ideas not only from existing businesses, but from entrepreneurs and inventors as well. Using a nationally tested business analysis system, ideas are scored, strengths and weaknesses evaluated in terms of their revenue-producing viability, and then translated into a road map that entrepreneurs can use to develop their ideas. Success is enhanced because the road map connects them with professionals who can assist them along the way.

Whether it's patent protection, market research, business plan development, financing or any other of the many steps businesses require on the road to success, Washington Grows can get them there.

It's already happening. And in parts of our state that may come as a surprise. Clallam Economic Development Council hosted the first test of Washington Grows in the summer of 2008. Eighteen entrepreneurs took part in the program, and today there are five ideas that are well on their way to commercialization. One is a biodegradable paper funnel called the Uraid that allows women to urinate while standing. Invented by a 72-year-old great grandmother in Port Angeles, this device has already caught the attention of Sen. Patty Murray, who would like to see six million of them made for our female soldiers overseas.

Another inventor from Port Angeles set a world record with his survival suit, which keeps the human body warm in freezing waters for 25 hours. Today's survival suits worn by many fishermen in Alaska and off our coast maintain heat for three to five hours. This suit is currently in prototype development. It's not only on track to become a commercial success, but also undoubtedly will end up saving lives.

Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, Shoreline Community College and the city of Shoreline are working together to bring Washington Grows to their community so that the inventors, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the 32nd Legislative District have a place to bring their ideas and realize their dreams. And there are a dozen more economic development organizations across the state that are eager to start this program in their areas today.

Conservative estimates show that with an annual investment of $1 million through WMS over the next 10 years, Washington Grows will enable our state to create $2.84 billion in new revenue, more than 21,000 new good-paying jobs and more than $270 million in additional tax revenue.

Fifty-three percent of all new jobs are created by small business. Washington Grows is a grassroots complement to the existing research and development capability at institutions like Battelle, PNNL, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Washington Technology Center and SIRTI. It represents an opportunity for our state to support and cultivate homegrown entrepreneurs and small businesses and build new opportunities for our future.

We must remember this country was built not on the backs of the government, but instead on the courage and ingenuity of its citizens. We urge the Legislature to support that courage and ingenuity with programs like Washington Grows.

REP. MARALYN CHASE (D) represents the 32nd Legislative District (Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, and Kenmore) in the State House of Representatives. JOHN VICKLUND is president of Washington Manufacturing Services.