Willdan Set to Join Russell 3000 Index

ANAHEIM, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Willdan Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WLDN) today announced that it is set to
join the broad-market Russell 3000^® Index at the conclusion
of the Russell US Indexes annual reconstitution, effective after the US
market opens on June 26, according to a preliminary list of additions
posted on June 9.

Annual reconstitution of the Russell US indexes captures the 4,000
largest US stocks, ranking them by total market capitalization.
Membership in the US all-cap Russell 3000^® Index, which
remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the
large-cap Russell 1000^® Index or small-cap Russell 2000^®
Index as well as the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE
Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes by objective,
market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

“We are very pleased to be added to the Russell indexes,” said Tom
Brisbin, Willdan’s CEO. “The Russell indexes are widely followed within
the investment community, and we believe our inclusion will positively
impact the liquidity in our stock and lead to more awareness for our
Company as an attractive investment.”

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional
investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment
strategies. Approximately $8.4 trillion in assets are benchmarked
against Russell’s US indexes. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell,
a leading global index provider.

For more information on the Russell 3000^® Index and the
Russell indexes reconstitution, go to the “Russell Reconstitution”
section on the FTSE
Russell website.

About Willdan

Willdan provides professional consulting and technical services to
utilities, public agencies and private industry throughout the United
States. The Company’s service offerings span a broad set of
complementary disciplines that include energy efficiency and
sustainability, engineering and planning, financial and economic
consulting, and national preparedness. Willdan provides integrated
technical solutions to extend the reach and resources of its clients,
and provides all services through its subsidiaries specialized in each
segment. For additional information, visit Willdan’s website at www.willdan.com.

About FTSE Russell

FTSE Russell is a leading global index provider creating and managing a
wide range of indexes, data and analytic solutions to meet client needs
across asset classes, style and strategies. Covering 98% of the
investable market, FTSE Russell indexes offer a true picture of global
markets, combined with the specialist knowledge gained from developing
local benchmarks around the world.

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by
institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $12.5
trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30
years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and
investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their
investment performance and create investment funds, ETFs, structured
products and index-based derivatives. FTSE Russell indexes also provide
clients with tools for asset allocation, investment strategy analysis
and risk management.

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and
management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by
independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is
focused on index innovation and customer partnership applying the
highest industry standards and embracing the IOSCO Principles. FTSE
Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group.

For more information, visit www.ftserussell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical,
including statements regarding Willdan’s intentions, hopes, beliefs,
expectations, representations, projections, estimates, plans or
predictions of the future are forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including,
but not limited to, the risk that Willdan will not be able to expand its
services or meet the needs of customers in markets in which it operates.
It is important to note that Willdan’s actual results could differ
materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are
not limited to, a slowdown in the local and regional economies of the
states where Willdan conducts business and the loss of or inability to
hire additional qualified professionals. Willdan’s business could be
affected by a number of other factors, including the risk factors listed
from time to time in Willdan’s SEC reports including, but not limited
to, the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended January 1,
2016. Willdan cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Willdan
disclaims any obligation to, and does not undertake to, update or revise
any forward-looking statements in this press release.

Contacts

Willdan Group, Inc.
Stacy McLaughlin, 714-940-6300
Chief
Financial Officer
[email protected]
or
Investor/Media
Contact
Financial Profiles, Inc.
Tony Rossi, 310-622-8221
[email protected]