American Express’ Post

American Express, in collaboration with U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, launched the Small Business Hurricane Recovery grant program to support small businesses like Henderson Toy Company, a family-owned toy, book and game store, as they rebuild and recover. As a grant recipient, they hope to use the funding to maintain their business through an uncertain holiday revenue season in the wake of Hurricane Helene and pay it forward by supporting local toy drives for families who have also experienced losses. Learn more about the program: https://go.amex/RtzzNP #AmexBusiness

Recovering from the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton has been ongoing for small businesses like Bake’n Babes, a specialty bakery in Davis Islands, FL. American Express, in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, launched the Small Business Hurricane Recovery grant program to support small businesses in their journey to rebuild. They hope to use their grant funding to continue to make repairs following extensive hurricane damage. American Express is committed to backing small businesses in the region as they rebuild and thrive. Read more and learn if you’re eligible and how to apply for the grants here: https://go.amex/1pXLSy

Clad, a boutique in Asheville, NC, is a recipient of a Small Business Hurricane Recovery grant. American Express, in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, launched the program to support small businesses in their journey to recovery from the devastation of recent hurricanes, including Hurricane Helene. Clad is planning to use their grant funding to replace revenue lost during the slow tourism season, and they want to remind others that shopping small during the holidays helps businesses thrive. Read more and learn if you’re eligible and how to apply for the grants here: https://go.amex/1pXLSy

Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated small businesses like Coconut Inn, a beloved beach inn focused on providing guests with the best local experience during their vacations. As a grant recipient of the Small Business Hurricane Recovery grant program from American Express and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, they hope to use the funding to support staff who have suffered financially due to fewer bookings and to make repairs. American Express has a longstanding commitment to supporting small businesses. Learn more about the program: https://go.amex/RtzzNP #AmexBusiness

Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated small businesses like Coconut Inn, a beloved beach inn focused on providing guests with the best local experience during their vacations. As a grant recipient of the Small Business Hurricane Recovery grant program from American Express and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, they hope to use the funding to support staff who have suffered financially due to fewer bookings and to make repairs. American Express has a longstanding commitment to supporting small businesses. Learn more about the program here: https://go.amex/RtzzNP

American Express, in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, launched the Small Business Hurricane Recovery grant program to support small businesses like blacksmith and leather workshop Night Owl Iron Works rebuild and recover. They hope to use the grant funding to replace revenue lost in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Read more and learn if you’re eligible and how to apply for the grants here: https://lnkd.in/eeic5zf8

On this year’s Small Business Saturday, American Express raised over $5 million to support a second round of Small Business Hurricane Recovery grants through its giving pledge. This is in addition to the $5 million the company committed to the grant program, which was launched in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in October to help support small businesses impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “We’re committed to extending our longstanding support of small businesses to help those that were devastated by the hurricanes this fall,” said Jennifer Skyler, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, American Express. “We’ve heard first-hand from small business owners about the impact our initial grant funding had on their recovery, but there’s still work to do. Many small businesses are still struggling, and we hope that this second round of Small Business Hurricane Recovery grants will help them recover and prosper again.” Read more and learn if you’re eligible and how to apply for the grants here: https://lnkd.in/ekUcgD_X

Helping folks in need is part of what we do.

Attention Operators: After the devastating effects that Hurricane Helene has had on Florida and the southeastern USA region, we have setup the Monologix Care Fund. The fund consists of $5,000, comprised of 10x $500 gifts.   Monologix, Inc. provides a booking software (SmartRezBooking.com) and boat safety education (BoatTests101.com) to Florida and the southeastern USA based businesses, so we are here to support these communities in a time of need.   The criteria for this fund is as follows: i) Any tour or activities company that has been impacted by Hurricane Helene is eligible to apply. Let us know how you were impacted and what you are doing so your business or your community will come back stronger. ii) Please fill out the simple form on how you were impacted by Fri, Oct 18 @ noon EST. https://lnkd.in/ednBM2bK   (The intent is for the money to help business owners and their employees in this time of need, helping to rebuild their business and their community.  For example: Pay for a meal for you and your staff while rebuilding.) During this time of crisis, it is important that we all come together and help those around us who are in need of support.

The devastation from Hurricane Helene is too much to fathom, especially to the families in the path. Recovery requires the help of the government, charitable groups, and businesses and individuals who can contribute money, resources, and time. It's brought back my memories of Hurricane Katrina in 2006. In early 2007, I was able to take a break from work and join rebuild efforts in New Orleans. It was really hard work, gutting flood-ravaged homes to prep them for a rebuild. Working within a zone of mass devastation is very challenging. It was often hard to feel that our group - mighty as we were - were moving the needle. We were able prep one house in about 12 hours while the entire neighborhood needed the same. One of our teams completed a house only to be told by officials that the structure needed to be torn down. And that's when your professional work lessons kicked in. This isn't about you. You worked as hard as you could to complete the group task on target, quickly accept the imperfections of the process and move on. You help keep team morale up. You take on new responsibilities on the fly to meet the goal, even if that's spraying bleach while wearing a plastic coveralls in NOLA heat. One day, we were able to meet the homeowner. Hearing what she went through to survive Katrina was enough to make us work harder. I'm planning on making a trip east at some point early next year to work with Habitat or WCK. Let me know if you want to join. Don't sweat a schedule that can't accommodate helping now or next month. Like Katrina, the Helene rebuild will likely take years. And it may take time for these communities to figure out how and when you can best help and where they can house you. For now, contribute what you can.