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LeNoir “Len” Zaiser doesn't mince words about why he had to sell his last company, Naples-based Structure Medical, during the economic downturn in 2010.

Zaiser says finance companies that used to fund equipment purchases disappeared from the financial markets during the recession. Even Structure, whose sales rose 110% in 2009, couldn't get banks to fund the growth in the booming orthopedic-implant manufacturing business during the financial crisis.

Capital is the lifeblood of any manufacturer because of the costly but necessary equipment. “Capital continues to be a constraint for all companies,” says Zaiser. “It's still a difficult process.”