A family-run coffee shop, flower truck, and bait and tackle shop are among 25 small businesses in Southwest Florida that received grants totaling $250,000 today in the wake of Hurricane Ian, giving them important relief as recovery efforts continue well. These grants were a result of an earlier donation by Verizon to Collaboratory, a local southwest Florida problem-solving nonprofit, and Florida TaxWatch, a trusted nonprofit that serves as the “eyes and ears” of Florida taxpayers and promotes economic development across the state to support small businesses in times of crisis.
“Long after the storm has passed, the devastation Ian caused continues to spread to small businesses, many of whom have lost everything and have had to start over,” said Aparna Khurjekar, chief revenue officer, of business markets and SaaS at Verizon Business. “We hope that the companies receiving the grants through our partners now have the resources they desperately need to recover.”
Hurricane Ian struck Florida on September 28 as a Category 4 catastrophic storm, killing over 100 people and causing damage to infrastructure, homes, and other property estimated at over $50 billion. Thousands of small businesses in Southwest Florida were affected by the storm. Through the Verizon donation, Collaboratory and Florida TaxWatch created the $10,000 grant program.
Collaboratory and Florida TaxWatch worked with community leaders to select the final 25 small businesses from hundreds of deserving applicants and nominees.
“We are extremely excited about this grant as these funds will help us invest in distribution channels to grow outside of Southwest Florida while our community focuses on rebuilding,” said Maddy Eagle, grant recipient and CEO of Flying Eagle kombucha “It will also help us increase our impact here at home as we continue to support our local farms, community gardens and their missions for a sustainable region.”
