Matlacha Hookers Inc. is a local 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1998 and currently has approximately 200 members. After Hurricane Ian, the group adopted his GoFundMe for Hurricane Relief and continued to raise funds for the Greater Pine Island region thereafter. The organization strives to make a positive difference in the community and has decided to use a portion of the funds raised for hurricane relief and rebuilding locally owned and operated businesses in the Greater Pine Island area and recognizes this grant opportunity. he devotes $20,000 to
Eligibility Criteria:
• Locally owned and operated businesses in the Greater Pine Islands region. This is for small businesses. Non-profit clubs and social clubs are not eligible.
• Opened and operated at least one year before Hurricane Ian (September 28, 2022) – Must provide Sunbiz Annual Reports for 2021 and 2022.
• Currently open
weighting criteria
(100 total points for applicants):
1) 20 points: If so, what type of aid did you apply for?
2) 20 points: How has your business contributed to the Greater Pine Island region during the first four months of recovery efforts?
3) 40 Points: How can your business support the ongoing recovery effort to Pine Island over the next 12 months?
4) 20 points: How will your company use the money if you are selected as a beneficiary?
Necessary information:
Visit locations are randomly selected.
All application questions must be completed. If your application is missing the required information or is not accompanied by the required attachments, your application will not be eligible to proceed to the ranking rounds.
If you are selected as a recipient, Hookers will ask you to provide a description of how the grant has made a positive difference to your business. Applicant agrees to have this story published and shared to further the Matlacha Hooker Hurricane Ian Grant Program and the Greater Pine Island Reconstruction Plan.
Once the applicant is determined to be eligible, the weighting criteria will be reviewed and scored. A ranking list will be completed and the top 10 applicants with the highest scores will receive the grant. In case of a tie, applicants will be selected by blind lottery. Each selected business will receive a $2,000 grant. Only 10 companies will be selected.
Applications for grants can be found on the Hurricane Ian Recovery tab of the Hookers website. The completed application and attachments can be mailed to Matlacha Hookers, PO Box 111, Matlacha, FL 33993 and must be mailed and marked by June 23, 2023.
If your company is selected as a payee, a member of the committee will contact you to invite you to the July 10th general meeting for the presentation of the check. Companies not selected will receive a letter from the committee acknowledging receipt of their application and thanking them for their submission.
If you have any questions about the grant process or criteria, please contact Julia Gaylor. “mailto:12thmadam.julia@gmail.com”>12thmadam.julia@gmail.com. Please add “MH Grant Questions” to the subject line.