Rock 'N' Support Application

Rock ‘N’ Support Gulf Islands Hospitality and Tourism Relief Fund is providing one-time grants to eligible workers from the hospitality and tourism industry of the gulf islands and designated coastal communities who have been displaced by Hurricane Helen or Milton and experienced lost wages, evacuation expenses, and/or damage to their home and belongings due to the storms. 

Qualified employees who, prior to the storms, worked more than 25 hrs./week are eligible for a $500 grant. Qualified employees who prior to the storms worked fewer than 25 hrs./week are eligible for a $250 grant.

Who Qualifies: 

To qualify, you must have been employed in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry 6 months prior to September 26, 2024, (hired on or before March 26, 2024) at a business located in a Manatee County Gulf Island community and have experienced an economic hardship due to Hurricane Helene and/or Milton.

Details: 

• Manatee County Gulf Island Community is defined as a hospitality or tourism business located in Manatee County in one of the following zip codes: 34215,34216, 34217, 34218 and the Manatee County portion of 34228.

• The Manatee County Hospitality/Tourism Industry includes, but is not limited to: 
  • Foodservice workers including servers, cooks, bartenders, dishwashers
  • Hotel employees including front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, concierge, valet
  • Event professionals including caterers, salespeople, operations personnel
  • Tour operators including charter boat captains, watersports guides, rental support staff
• Full-time or Part-time grant levels will be determined by an average of the hours listed on the applicant’s four weeks of pay documents prior to September 26, 2024 or as verified by the applicants manager. If the hours worked average 25 hours or greater a week it will be considered full-time for the purposes of this grant. If the hours average less than 25 hours a week it will be considered part-time for the purposes of this grant.

Information you will need to provide: 

• A copy of your driver's license, or other form of identification
• Paystubs representing 4 weeks prior to Sept 26, 2024 
• The location/address of your employer
• Hire date
• Emplyment Status and average number of hours worked per week
• Industry type and position title
• How your employment was impacted by one or both hurricanes and how the interruption caused you hardship (i.e. difficulty paying rent, bills, purchase essential needs).

Click "Next" to proceed with the application

 

All applications will be reviewed in the order they are received. Information will be reviewed and verified by an independent case manager. If needed, a case manager may contact you for additional information or follow-up to assist in the verification process. 

The verification process will take approximately 5-7 business days. Once the independent verification process has been completed, you will be notified via email that you have been approved and your grant check will either be mailed directly to you at the address on your application or be available for pick up at Suckin' Good Cause Headquaters within two weeks of approval. If you were independently denied and failed to qualify you will also be notified by email.

The grants shall be awarded on a first come first served basis as long as there are funds available from the Rock ‘N’ Support Gulf Islands Hospitality and Tourism Relief Fund. Once the relief funds are exhausted the program will end. Applying to the program does not guarantee that you will receive a grant even if you are qualified.

By signing below you certify that all the information provided is true and correct. 

By signing below you certify that all the information provided is true and correct.