Island businesses receive grants through recovery fund
The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) announced that as of April 15, 38 independently owned businesses on the islands had received grants totaling $215,000 for their post-hurricane recovery.
CFI reactivated the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund — first created after Hurricane Charley — following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Community donors contributed more than $266,000 to the small business support program, led by a $125,000 match challenge from an anonymous donor.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude for every donor who stepped up to help us meet this ambitious goal for our small businesses,” Executive Director Dolly Farrell said. “These funds will have a transformative impact on our local businesses, ensuring they have the resources they need to recover and thrive.”
It provided the following update of April 15:
– $266,000 raised from donors
– $215,000 disbursed to FISH of Sanibel-Captiva for small business grants
– 38 businesses awarded grants, averaging $5,000 each
– Thirty applicants from Sanibel and eight applicants from Captiva
– $5,000 earmarked for this year’s “Love Sanibel Business Back” initiative, which is organized and executed by Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church on Sanibel
The CFI noted that FISH administered the grant program, including processing applications and distributing funds to business owners in need. Also, the SanCap Chamber assisted business owners through the application process and provided outreach to ensure those in need were aware of the opportunity.
“There was never any hesitation from FISH of SanCap when asked to administer this program Likewise, the chamber of commerce stepped up immediately, assigning a dedicated staff member to help business owners navigate the application process,” CFI Board Chair Lisa Riordan said. “Their combined efforts made this program possible, and we are deeply grateful.”
“Supporting our local businesses in their recovery is essential to rebuilding our community,” FISH Executive Director Maria Espinoza said. “We are proud to partner with CFI to provide these much-needed grants and are grateful to every donor who made this possible.”
“Our local businesses are the backbone of our community,” SanCap Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “We were honored to assist in this process and ensure that business owners had the support they needed to access these critical funds.”
For more information about the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund, visit myCFI.org.