Impact100 of Northwest Florida, Inc. has selected 10 organizations as finalists to receive grant funding this year. At its November annual meeting, members will select from the finalists five nonprofits that will each receive a $100,000 grant award.
Arts & Culture: Stage Crafters Community Theatre Inc. – “The Show Must Go On…” Save Our Community Theatre’s Home and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast – Sea Breeze Wind Ensemble.
Education: FloridaOne DMAT Inc. – Training First Responders and Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless – The Impact Village Opportunity Zone (Phase 1).
Environment, Recreation & Preservation: Friends of the Freeport Public Library – Words on Wheels: Stocking the Walton County Bookmobile and Pyramid, Inc. – Outdoor Recreation Equity for Individuals with Disabilities.
Family: The Salvation Army – Mobile Kitchen for Disaster & Community Assistance and Healing Hoof Steps – Expanding Access to Alternative Mental Health Treatments.
Health & Wellness: Healing Paws for Warriors – Save a Veteran, Rescue a Dog: Mobile Support and Heart of the Bride – Emerald Coast CarePortal: Rescuing Families in Crisis.
Vertex Solutions is among the top 50 second-stage companies in Florida selected as a 12th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch honoree, a statewide competition that identifies companies expected to see significant growth over the next several years. Representing Okaloosa County, it is the only Northwest Florida based company on the list. The Crestview/Fort Walton Beach/Destin metro has one of the fastest growing high-tech sectors in the U.S., ranked No. 3 in the country. Companies were judged on criteria including growth in number of employees, impact of the business in the job market, increase in sales and/or unit volume, current and past financial reports, innovativeness of the product or service, response to adversity and contributions to aid community-oriented projects.
To qualify for the award, companies must be headquartered in Florida and have between 6 and 150 and revenue between $750,000 and $100 million. From 2018 through 2021, these companies generated $1 billion in revenue and added 881 employees, reflecting a 96 percent increase in revenue and a 104 percent increase in jobs for the four-year period.
Bron Ringstad of Niceville has been named VP of Branch Operations at Eglin Federal Credit Union. Bron earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Florida State University and has been a manager for the Credit Union since 2009. In his new role, he will continue the work he has been doing by providing employee development and support to branch personnel while focusing on financial education of products and services, membership growth and positive member experiences.
Step One Automotive Group has been named a Champions of Charity honoree by AutoSuccess. The Champions of Charity program recognizes automotive industry companies that are making a difference in their communities, businesses and beyond with their charitable acts and donations. “This program was derived from our years of observations of charitable deeds on all sides of the automotive industry,” said AutoSuccess Publisher Susan Givens. “For us at Step One Automotive Group, leaving a legacy in the communities we serve is part of our mission as an organization and something that we take very seriously,” said Maureen Bierman, Step One Automotive Group director of marketing and communications.
Step One partners with charitable organizations, including the HSU Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, Saving with Soul Pet Rescue, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, local military groups and many more.
The class of 15 honorees appears in a special section of the magazine’s September issue as well as online at AutoSuccessOnline.com and in various social media promotions across multiple platforms.
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) would like to invite all Okaloosa County artists, art and culture organizations to participate in the Holiday Arts Gallery being held on Sat., Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event is hosted by HH Arts, located at 100 Beal Parkway SW, FWB. Spaces can be reserved by local artists and art or cultural organizations for $15 for OAA/ADSO members and $30 for non-members. Artists are encouraged to sell their artwork as well as provide live demonstrations. The Holiday Arts Gallery will be free and open to the public. We invite the public to come holiday shop from local artists, learn about art classes/events happening in Okaloosa County. Enjoy live holiday music by local artists, refreshments and enter the drawings to win tickets and donated artwork. Tobenefit the Okaloosa Arts Alliance, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1136333837260491, text (850) 218-2155 or email okaloosaarts@outlook.com for more information.
