Jefferson County’s minority-owned small businesses are contributing significantly to employment in 2024, according to a recent ranking based on the number of estimated employees held by each company. The list, containing 55 entries, showcased a handful of leaders in industries such as construction, professional services, and technology.
Topping this year’s list was Lakewood’s Nexgen Technologies Inc., an IT services firm employing 176 workers. Sherpa 6 Inc., which primarily provides systems engineering and software development, secured the second spot with 155 employees, a significant rise of 33.6% from its 116 workers in the previous year. ASEC Inc. displayed strong staffing numbers too, ranking third with 137 employees.
The fourth and fifth places were occupied by Ageiss Inc. and ADC Management Services Inc., with 133 and 108 employees, respectively. Significantly, ADC Management Services Inc. observed a 42.1% employment hike since the prior year, reflecting a firm trend of employment growth across the board.
Further down the list at the sixth position was Vita Inclinata Technologies. Despite its relatively smaller workforce of 77, the company’s Form 5500 for 2022 showed an impressive year-on-year growth of 175%, escalating from a previous count of 28 employees.
All together, the list reflects some 1,400 workers employed by Jefferson County minority-owned small businesses. Across the top 25 businesses, various sectors featured strongly. Eight firms hailed from the Construction, Engineering & Architecture industry, while both Professional Services, and Software & Technology had four participants each. The Staffing and Manufacturing industries had three and two companies respectively, along with Environmental and Trade sectors, highlighting the diverse range of business types thriving within the county’s minority-owned small businesses.