NIADA announced Tuesday that Spireon will contribute $100,000 to the NIADA Foundation's Disaster Relief Fund to help members of the automotive community recover from hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

The association said Spireon chose to give to the NIADA Foundation Disaster Relief Fund because it was the quickest way to contribute to the customers and the communities the company serves.

 "Our hearts and prayers go out to the folks whose lives have been impacted by hurricanes Harvey and Irma," Spireon chief executive officer Kevin Weiss said in a news release.

"We know the road has not been easy over the past few weeks, and we know the recovery efforts will continue for months to come. We are incredibly thankful for the support our customers have shown us over the years and feel very fortunate to be in a position to give back to these impacted communities," he continued.

Spireon will use its NSpire platform to provide data to customers to help them get their businesses running and assess next steps in wake of the storms, according to Weiss.

"When Spireon heard the NIADA Foundation had created the Emergency Relief Fund, it quickly rallied and offered a major financial commitment to help those affected by the catastrophic storms," said Steve Jordan, NIADA's CEO and president of the NIADA Foundation board of trustees. "We appreciate that Spireon understands recovery doesn't happen overnight, and we are looking forward to working with Kevin Weiss and his entire team to advance our shared goals of helping all members of the independent dealer community get back on their feet again."

 The Disaster Relief fund was established by the NIADA Foundation to enable members and industry partners to help fellow dealers and others in the automotive community in need.

 NIADA said the foundation will continue funding hurricane relief efforts in the coming months.

Fort Wayne store named Quality Dealer of the Year

Meanwhile, in other auto community news, the Indiana Independent Automobile Dealers Association recently announced that Grote Automotive of Fort Wayne, Ind. is its 2017 “Joe Krier” Quality Dealer of the Year.

Owner Fred Grote recently accepted the award at the association’s 30th Anniversary Golf Tournament and Awards Day held at Ironwood Golf Club.

Grote Automotive was started by Grote and his wife Jackie in 2007.

“‘For The People’ is the guiding drive behind the success of the dealership,” the association said in a news release.

“Fred has instilled in the staff that customers are to always feel respected and be given the most enjoyable and fun car buying experience they have ever had.”

In addition to recognizing dealerships and dealers that have a record of being consumer-oriented, award winners must also represent themselves as a civic leader in their community.

The Grote’s have fostered over 30 children and adopted four as their own. Currently, two of their children are involved in the business.

Grote Automotive will represent Indiana at the NIADA Convention in Orlando, Fla. in June. The dealership will compete with Quality Dealers from other states for the National Quality Dealer of the Year title.

Additionally, this year, the dealership was named one of Indiana’s Top 100 Best Places to Work and No. 1 in Fort Wayne.