The works will be financed by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Authority and multiple federal programs. The executive president of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Authority (PRASA), Doriel Pagán-Crespo, has announced the release of new bid notices for significant infrastructure improvements totaling approximately $95 million. The projects aim to improve services in Guayama, Salinas, Naranjito, Villalba, San Juan, Yauco and Caguas,  “The upcoming projects will be funded with PRASA’s own funds, [funds from] the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Community Development B ..read more

The funding will support infrastructure damaged by hurricanes María and Fiona. The municipalities of Cayey, San Germán, Utuado and Yabucoa, Puerto Rico have received more than $23 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair roads damaged by hurricanes María and Fiona.  These funds also include resources for mitigation measures to prevent similar damage in the event of future disasters.  “Roads are a vital part of the country, especially in emergency situations when access to a particular route can prevent accidents and even save lives,” said Jos ..read more

The event also served as a framework to highlight the work of the island’s financial institutions. The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands District Office recognized local entrepreneurs and financial institutions as part of National Small Business Week 2024. The ceremony, held at the Verdanza Hotel in Carolina, celebrated the contributions small business owners make. Josué E. Rivera, SBA district director for Puerto Rico and the USVI, praised the entrepreneurs for their role in supporting the economy.  “Every company is exceptional and deserving of th ..read more

Panelists from Latin America and Puerto Rico shared their experiences for better online communication and growth. With standing-room-only participation, and more than 25 experts in logistics, development, growth, and strategy for online stores, the E-Commerce Growth Caribbean Conference highlighted the need to strengthen digital entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico. “The full-capacity participation … and the genuine interest of the attendees validated what we have been proposing for years: It’s necessary to renew and strengthen the information that is sent to entrepreneurs in Puerto Rico so they ca ..read more

Four small-business owners received grants to buy renewable energy systems. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Rural Development office recently distributed $565,109 in grants to the municipality of Camuy and several small businesses in the town. The municipality of Camuy received $392,042 to purchase a specialized ambulance that will serve local residents, funded through the Biden-Harris administration’s American Rescue Plan Act’s Rural Health Care Emergency Program (ERHC), said Maximiliano J. Trujillo-Ortega, Rural Development’s state director for Puerto Rico. The Camuy small busine ..read more

The island’s tourism and cruise sectors showed strong growth in the year’s first quarter. Puerto Rico’s tourism sector data for the first quarter of 2024 showcases “very positive historical figures,” Carlos Mercado-Santiago, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. (PRTC), said at a news conference with reporters, where he discussed the sector’s growth over the past three “very interesting months,” including the current record in direct employment of 96,000 jobs, an increase of 9,000 since 2021. Mercado-Santiago described Puerto Rico’s tourism industry as “extremely resilient,” having ..read more

Several local malls are slated to welcome new tenants, which call for redevelopments and redesigns to accommodate new services and trends. Puerto Rico’s biggest shopping centers saw an overall increase of 5% in retail activity last year compared to the previous year, and executives believe the trend will continue as they evolve to meet changing consumer needs. During a roundtable discussion with local media, members of the Puerto Rican Association of Shopping Centers (ACCP, in Spanish) — which represents more than a dozen local malls — addressed trends and plans for this year, including tenant ..read more

The route has been in service since April. Global connectivity provider Telxius has announced the launch of its latest submarine cable route, the extension of SAm-1 between Punta Cana , Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. The route has been in service since April and serves as a link between the Caribbean, the United States and wider Latin America through connections with the Brusa, PCCS and SAm-1 cables, the company noted. The extension expands Telxius’ network capabilities and further bridges the gap between the Caribbean and the Americas with ultra-high-capacity connectivity. It will be the ..read more

The agreement covers the organization’s 200 union employees on the island. Crowley and Teamsters Union Local 901 have announced a new labor agreement to extend their partnership, which has been serving Puerto Rico’s shipping and logistics needs for decades. The agreement, which was recently ratified by the union members, will continue until 2029 and covers 200 employees at Crowley’s Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan. These employees work in various critical roles including port equipment operators, truck drivers and support operations. “We have successfully worked with the Teamsters Union to pr ..read more

In Puerto Rico, more than 600,000 families will be affected by the end of the program. In a letter to Congress sent this week, Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the urgency of providing additional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) before funding is officially exhausted by the end of May, and participating households can no longer receive any ACP benefit.  The FCC had already announced that April would be the last month households could receive an applicable $30 discount, and in May certain households could continue to receive a ..read more