Jenniffer González announces $113 million in federal funds for education, jobs generation, expand the life of landfills and reimbursement for emergency measures

Washington, D.C.-The Resident Commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, announced different federal funds totaling $113,645,428.53 from the federal Department of Commerce, Education, Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA ).

Two of the federal Department of Commerce dependencies provided funds to seek to boost economic development.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) granted $3,508,551 to the Iniciativa Tecnológica Centro Oriental, INC. in Caguas. The center seeks to support companies affected by Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 12 municipalities; offering disaster recovery, space needed for development, commercial support education and access to capital.

This allocation is under the Disaster Supplement Relief fund that was nurtured with funds approved in the 2018 Bipartisan budget Act. The recipients of the funds have been selected through a competitive process based on the merit of the application, the eligibility of the applicant and the availability of funds.

This investment is expected to help conserve 360 jobs, generate 324 jobs and $660,000 in private investment.

The other Federal trade umbrella is the agency for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) which granted $273.793 to the minority Business Resource Development of Puerto Rico under its proposal to aid with preparation to disaster the business community of Puerto Rico to prepare before natural disasters to be able to respond to contractual opportunities.

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is the only federal agency established exclusively to create jobs through the growth and global competitiveness of minority-owned businesses in the United States. MBDA coordinates and leverages public and private sector resources to provide access to capital, contracts and markets.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development allocated $900.000 to the Solid Waste Authority for, precisely, the solid waste management program. These funds will serve to reduce and eliminate water pollution, improve the planning and management of solid waste sites at 28 municipal landfills and the rural communities of Ancones-Arroyo; Flamenco-Culebra; Demajagua-Fajardo, Pozo Hondo Guayama, Gurabo Arriba Juncos, Llanos Costa-Lajas, Centro-Moca and Puerto Diablo-Vieques.

The solid Waste Authority, in collaboration with professors from the Mayagüez University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus and the University of New York will work in technical assistance and training in budgetary analysis, market analysis, public information, awareness campaign, development of an efficient collection system, segregation of recyclable materials at source, correct waste management and recycling, and maximize the use of the recovery facility Materials and a compost center.

This effort seeks to help conserve natural resources, add years of life to Puerto Rico's municipal landfills, ensure health and safety by reducing solid waste by recycling and compost, improving the quality of life of approximately 4.123 families and encourage the economy.

To make it easier for parents to continue with higher education, the Federal Education Department assigned $60,336.00 to the Bayamón Central University under the Child Care Access Means Parent in School Program. This program supports the participation of low-income parents in post-secondary education programs by providing child care services on campus.

On the other hand, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved refunds totaling $108,902,748.53.

These refunds are given under FEMA's public assistance program for expenses incurred by agencies, municipalities, as well as institutions for reconstruction and recovery work due to the impact of Hurricane Maria.

The funds that FEMA disburses come from assignments that have been worked by the Commissioner from the Congress, both with the Republican leadership and with the Democratic minority, by means of the budget projects or through the projects of appropriations disaster supplementation.

Under category A, for expenses of removal of rubble, the municipality of Fajardo will receive $1,640,619.39; The municipality of Aibonito will receive $5,797,114.72; The municipality of Naguabo $5,521,961.54; and the municipality of Camuy $1,045,150.00.

Category B covers the measures to provide "essential assistance" to address immediate threats to life and property because of a major disaster.

Under this category, the National Guard will receive $12,182,621.55; The Electric Power Authority shall receive two refunds, the first of $25,496,800 and the second of $24,717,869; The authority of the Puerto Rico Convention Center District will receive $1,053,348.83; and the University of Puerto Rico will receive $3,177,323.51 for the use of generators in the 12 campuses.

The housing department will receive $28,269,940.09 for administrative costs. These funds are given under the category Z of FEMA's public Assistance program.