Verizon Awards $250,000 to Small Businesses Affected by Hurricane Ian

FORT MYERS (FLV) – Verizon awarded grants worth a total of $250,000 to small businesses across Southwest Florida to provide critical relief as recovery efforts continue after Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian struck Florida on Sept. 28 and was a large and destructive Category 4 hurricane that was the deadliest to strike the state since 1935. The storm affected business owners, particularly in Southwest Florida. Many had to gut their stores after flood waters damaged their buildings.

A family-owned coffee shop, a floral truck and a bait and tackle business are among the 25 small businesses across Southwest Florida who were awarded grants from Verizon. These grants were the result of a previous donation made by Verizon to Collaboratory, a local nonprofit community-problem solving organization in Southwest Florida, and Florida TaxWatch, a trusted nonprofit organization that promotes economic development across the state to support small businesses in times of crisis.

“Long after the storm has passed, the devastation caused by Ian continues to unfold for small businesses, many of which lost everything and have had to start over,” said Aparna Khurjekar, Chief Revenue Officer, Business Markets and SaaS at Verizon Business. “Our hope is that the businesses receiving the grants through our partners will now have the resources they urgently need to recover.”

Collaboratory and Florida TaxWatch worked with community leaders to select the final 25 small businesses from the hundreds of applicants and nominees.

“We are thrilled to have received this grant as these funds will help us invest in sales channels to grow outside of Southwest Florida while our community focuses on rebuilding,” said grant recipient and CEO of Flying Eagle Kombucha, Maddy Eagle. “It will also assist us in strengthening our impact here at home, while we continue to support our local farms, community gardens, and their missions for a sustainable region.”