Keeping Accelerate Dollars Working on the Islands: CFI and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank Invest in Local Businesses

Through the Accelerate Small Business Loan Program, the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank are helping local businesses recover, grow and invest in the future of Sanibel and Captiva.

Created in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Accelerate is rooted in impact investing, an approach that allows charitable capital to address community needs while creating opportunities for those dollars to be reinvested over time. The program was made possible through generous seed funding provided by anonymous donors who believed in the recovery and long-term strength of the island business community. CFI does not charge administrative fees to the program, and charitable support to the Foundation helps make initiatives like Accelerate possible.

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank also provides its services to Accelerate at no cost. The bank underwrites applications, services the loans and handles the banking administration required to keep the program moving forward. Together, the partnership allows more of the program’s resources to remain focused on supporting island businesses.

To date, Accelerate has deployed more than $960,000 in low-interest loans to 11 local businesses, including ten on Sanibel and one on Captiva. Four are retail and service businesses, four are in recreation, rentals and tourism, two are restaurants and one is an accommodations provider. The balance of the original $1.2 million fund remains available, and because Accelerate was established as a revolving loan fund, dollars repaid by participating businesses can be reinvested into future loans, helping the program continue supporting Sanibel and Captiva businesses for years to come. The program has also experienced no loan defaults to date.

Accelerate is now entering its next phase, helping support entrepreneurs investing in the future of the islands. The four most recent loans have gone to business owners who are new to Sanibel and Captiva.

“Accelerate is a great example of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared goal,” said Kyle DeCicco, President and CEO of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. “Our team is proud to contribute the lending expertise and support needed to help local businesses access this capital. By providing those services at no cost to the program, we can help ensure more of the dollars invested in Accelerate stay focused on Sanibel and Captiva businesses.”

From left: Rudi Hamer, Senior Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer and Portfolio Manager, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank; Kyle DeCicco, President and CEO, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank; Dolly Farrell, Executive Director, Charitable Foundation of the Islands; and Doug Congress, Vice Chair, Charitable Foundation of the Islands, and Chair of the Accelerate Investment Advisory Committee. 

Much of the day-to-day banking work is led by Rudi Hamer, Senior Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer and Portfolio Manager at Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, who works with applicants from the initial pre-screening process through closing. Hamer estimates she has donated more than 100 hours of her time to the Accelerate program, underscoring the significant in-kind commitment the Bank has made to its success.

“Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has been an incredible partner in making Accelerate possible,” said Doug Congress, Chair of the Accelerate Investment Advisory Committee and Vice Chair of CFI. “This is truly a community-driven program. From the individuals who initially invested in the fund to the Bank donating its expertise and CFI supporting the program without administrative fees, everyone involved shares the same goal of helping local businesses succeed.”

Applications are carefully reviewed through a multi-step process involving the Accelerate Investment Advisory Committee, investor representatives and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. The Investment Advisory Committee includes community and business leaders Doug Congress, Brian Rist, Bob Wiesemann, John Talmage, Cindy Brown and John Lai.

THE LIGHTHOUSE CAFÉ: INVESTING IN THE NEXT CHAPTER

For Lighthouse Café owner Dan Billheimer, Accelerate provided an opportunity to move his business from recovery toward growth.

When Hurricane Ian pushed six feet of water through the Lighthouse Café in September 2022, Billheimer emptied the restaurant piece by piece onto the side of the road. Nearly everything was lost. Billheimer had spent much of his life dreaming of owning the café, which his uncle Mike operated for 33 years before him. Rebuilding meant starting over.

The café eventually reopened in a new location, but Billheimer had a larger vision for its future: developing a strong dinner service and expanding what the Lighthouse Café could offer the community.

The Lighthouse Café received a $50,000 Accelerate loan, which helped provide higher-interest debt relief and fund investment in its dinner program.

Dinner service began on December 15, 2025, and during the season averaged approximately 30 to 50 guests per night. The expansion also allowed the Lighthouse Café to add six positions to its payroll. Dinner service concluded for the season on August 15, 2026.

“After Hurricane Ian, there was an opportunity to design the new Lighthouse Café with a strong dinner service in mind,” Billheimer said. “The Accelerate loan enabled me to not only invest in this next level, but made me feel like my business is finally back after the storm.”

The Lighthouse Café story reflects the broader purpose of Accelerate: helping island businesses access capital that can support recovery, encourage growth and create new opportunities in the community.

ACCELERATE LOANS REMAIN AVAILABLE

Accelerate remains open to island businesses. Loans are available up to $100,000, with a competitive interest rate, first-year interest-only payments and a four-year term thereafter. Preference is given to businesses that meet a critical need for island recovery and to those that were open on Sanibel or Captiva before Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022. Businesses interested in applying should email Accelerate@sancapcfi.org and include a phone number to request an application. Following a pre-screening call, qualified applicants will receive instructions for submitting a secure online application and supporting documentation.

For more information about the Accelerate Small Business Loan Program, call 239-322-3818 and select option 3 for Small Business Inquiries, email Accelerate@sancapcfi.org, or visit www.charitablefoundationoftheislands.org/accelerate.

ABOUT THE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION OF THE ISLANDS

The Charitable Foundation of the Islands enhances quality of life on Sanibel and Captiva through strategic philanthropy and community leadership. By supporting initiatives that address critical local needs, CFI plays a key role in fostering a strong, connected and resilient community.

About Sanibel Captiva Community Bank (SanCapBank.com)

Founded in 2003, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has nine locations open throughout Lee County. On Fort Myers Beach, the bank is operating a temporary office open on Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while its permanent full-service branch is under development.

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank is nationally ranked as a top performing community bank by S&P Global Market Intelligence and is consistently rated a 4- to 5-star institution by Bauer Financial, a trusted independent bank rating firm. With more than $1 billion in total assets, the bank is well-capitalized and generates one of the highest returns on equity of all Florida banks. The bank employs more than 120 employees, and more than 60% are current shareholders. Since 2003, the bank has contributed well over $5 million to over 400 local, charitable causes and employees volunteer close to 1,000 hours annually.

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s team members provide customized individual and business banking services and specialize in residential and commercial lending. The bank offers personal and business checking, residential and commercial lending services, instant issue debit cards and a full array of digital banking products and services, including mobile banking apps, Card Hub, online bill pay, Zelle®, Positive Pay and ACH Manager. To