Front Lines

Keith Grant left the recent Venture Pitch SWFL forum in Punta Gorda having made a case that old-school tool manufacturing and 21st century technology go together like a firefighter and fire hose.

Grant, a former firefighter who founded North Port's Frontline Equipment Technologies LLC four years ago, also left with $30,000. He will use the venture capital to help him consolidate shops he has in Murdock Village, Charlotte County and in south Sarasota County in Venice.

Production under a single roof will help Grant boost production and increase marketing of his two main tool categories - HydraSpear Equipment Systems water-jetting nozzles and GatorFloss stainless steel-wire cutting saws. The investment will also help Grant do more of his own machining.