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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