Props Craft Brewery was fi rst established in 2011 

as a small brewpub by two U.S. Air Force pilots and 
has grown into a successful distribution brewery 
in Fort Walton Beach. Props needed to expand to 
continue its momentum in the current craft beer 
market, and this expansion will allow the company 
to move into a regional production brewery and meet 
the demand for their handcrafted beer.

The grant will help the company establish a 

presence at 125 Lovejoy Road in a 9,445 square-foot 
building near the Fort Walton Beach Commerce 
and Technology Park. The new facility will house 
a commercial brewery and will attract industry 
specialists in brewing, cellaring, distribution and 
chemical engineering. All of Props’ fl agship products 
are produced with American agricultural products. 
The production facility will have a taproom where 
customers may come to view the operations of the 
brewery.

One Hopeful Place – Phase One - 

The Community Solutions Board held a ribbon 

cutting on Phase One of One Hopeful Place (OHP).  
OHP, a community homeless project, will serve as 
a resource center for families, veterans, women and 
children who need a hand up, not a hand out.  

 The new One Hopeful Place “campus” is located 

at 1564 North Beal Extension (also referred as 1564 
Percy Coleman Road), on the City of Fort Walton 
Beach former waste treatment plant.  Phase One 
includes a cold night shelter for men and women, 
ten transitional beds for homeless men and veterans, 
laundry facilities, computers and other amenities that 
will help get these clients back on their feet.

 Later phases of the One Hopeful Place 

campus will include a one-stop resource center, 
a larger facility that will accommodate up to 40 
beds; converted portables for 6 month family 
accommodations, job services, and various other 
needs for those down on their luck. 

For more information, call One Hopeful Place at 

850-586-7679, or contact the Greater Fort Walton 
Beach Chamber of Commerce at 850-244-8191.  

well-being of our region. Impact 100 of Northwest 
Florida will support non-profi t organizations in our 
communities, advance responsible giving, and serve 
as an example of effective philanthropy. Imagine 
the possibilities of what can be accomplished for our 
community when we come together determined to 
make a difference. 

UWF OEDE Awards Grant to Help Fort 
Walton Beach Brewery Expand

The University of West Florida Offi ce of 

Economic Development and Engagement has 
awarded a $150,000 grant to Props Craft Brewery, 
LLC allowing the craft brewery to expand into the 
mass manufacturing and distribution market by 
opening a new facility in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

The grant is part of the Industry Recruitment, 

Retention and Expansion Fund program, which 
was launched in 2011 as part of Florida’s Oil Spill 
Recovery Act. The program, which has resulted 
in 9,000 new jobs in Northwest Florida, was 
established to assist communities in eight counties 
disproportionally affected by the 2010 Deepwater 
Horizon oil spill. The state contracted with OEDE to 
manage the program.

Northwest Florida Impact 100

The mission of Impact 100 of Northwest Florida, 

Inc. is to fi nancially support non-profi t organizations 
in Northwest Florida by empowering women 
as philanthropists and leaders, by bridging the 
geographic areas of our region, and by leveraging the 
talents of women to be a positive force for good in our 
communities.

The idea is simple: 100 women donate $1,000 

each to form a $100,000 grant to fund a community 
need. Membership is open to all women over 18 
(women who live outside of Okaloosa and Walton 
Counties may join). Each member of IMPACT 100 
determines the level of her involvement—whether 
she wants to simply write a membership check, or 
read and evaluate grant applications and visit the 
grant applicants’ projects, or serve on a standing 
committee. Most importantly, 100% of each 
member’s contribution is awarded to non-profi t 
organizations, with none of that contribution going to 
administrative costs.

All nonprofi ts, except those organizations 

whose primary purpose and use of grant funds 
is for religious or political activities, in Okaloosa 
and Walton counties are eligible for grants. Grant 
applications are accepted for projects in fi ve focus 
areas:

•         Arts and Culture
•         Education
•         Environment
•         Family
•         Health and Recreation
Impact 100 of Northwest Florida believes that 

collaborative and informed fi nancial giving will make 
a difference in the lives of others and will enhance the 

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