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Resident Commissioner announces $65 million in federal funds to generate jobs, reimbursements, research and others

September 25, 2018

Washington, D.C. – The Resident Commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, announced $65,434,749.68 federal funds for sciences, job generation, the promotion of exporting products and reimbursing expenses for Hurricane Maria response work.

The federal Department of Labor (DOL) allocated $ 6 million from the Department of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish) to the fund for workers who lost their jobs due to disasters. These supplementary funds were approved in September 2017 in response to hurricanes Irma and María.

With this fund, the DDEC can replace mobile units which have been used to provide services in remote areas of the island, as well as provide business opportunities to approximately 500 small businesses which were impacted by the hurricanes.

After the impact of hurricane Irma in September 2017, Dol approved an initial fund of $ 1.5 million, and an additional $ 3.5 million to alleviate Maria's impact. Today, they approved $ 6 million for a total of $ 11 million in funds granted.

The Small Business Committee (SBA) granted $300,000 to the Trade and Export Company (CCE by its acronym in Spanish) as part of the funds by competition of the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), which was granted to some 47 state agencies.

The STEP funds will allow additional methods to help small businesses at the state level with the information and tools they need to succeed in export-related activities. Activities include foreign trade missions, sales trips to the foreign market, and services provided by the Department of Commerce. federal, as well as the design of international marketing campaigns, export fair, exhibitions, training workshops and more.

The National Science Foundation allocated $ 355,640 to the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus for the study entitled MRI: Development of a Real-world Microgrid Simulation / Testing Instrument. The aim of this study is to study the micro-platform to promote the use of renewable energy sources that are an important part of the evolution of both distribution systems and smart grids.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the federal Department of Commerce approved three new appropriations of federal funds from the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program, funded through the Bipartite Budget Act approved in February 2018.

The United Retailers Center will receive $ 801,824 to provide comprehensive technical assistance to small and medium-sized businesses that are still dealing with the effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. According to estimates, the project is expected to create 60 new jobs.

For its part, Secret Heart University will receive two assignments totaling $ 2.3 million to help support business efforts after the damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.


Of the $ 2.3 million, $ 1.9 million will be directed to renovate two empty warehouse buildings to provide space for entrepreneurs in the creative industries sector. According to estimates, the project is expected to create 75 jobs and stimulate $ 1.5 million in private investment. Additionally, $ 400,000 is expected to support the Nuestro Barrio's creative industries and acceleration program, as well as provide technical assistance such as workshops, individual tutoring and networking opportunities. According to estimates, the project is expected to create or retain 100 jobs and generate $ 1.5 million in private investment.

The commissioner highlighted the interest of the Secretary of Federal Commerce, Wilbur Ross, and his agency for always looking for different alternatives for the distribution of these funds to institutions around the island for the quick recovery.

Furthermore, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved reimbursements totaling $ 55,677,285.68.

These reimbursements are given under the FEMA Public Assistance program for the 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 comes from assignments that the Commissioner has worked since Congress (both with the Republican leadership and with the Democratic minority) through the budget projects or through the projects of supplementary assignments for disasters.

Under category A, for debris removal expenses, the Municipality of Loiza will receive $ 2,187,925.84.

Category B covers the measures taken to provide essential assistance to face the immediate threats to life and property resulting from a major disaster.

Under this category, the Municipality of Cataño will receive $ 1,783,906.15; Las Piedras $ 1,745,451.52 and Carolina $ 5,205,281.57. Also, in Category B, the Electric Power Authority will receive $ 39,086,803.00 and Mennonite General Hospital $ 5,667,917.60.