Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging them to include and treat Puerto Rico equal to U.S. mainland jurisdictions in the stimulus package currently being drafted in response to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. The letter outlined several government priorities to be able to continue responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In […]
Seeking to add “greater visibility and access” to detailed information on the behavior of COVID-19 on the island, the Puerto Rico Health Secretary Lorenzo González, unveiled the agency’s digital dashboard that presents the official figures and behavior of the virus on the island. This tool promotes the development of the capacities needed to increase the […]
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.1 million grant to the University of Puerto Rico to hire three Disaster Recovery Coordinators to execute disaster recovery efforts throughout the entire Commonwealth. The project, to be located in a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act designated Opportunity Zone, will be matched with […]
Given with the challenge that employers in Puerto Rico are facing due to the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Economic Development and Commerce is earmarking $8 million in federal funds to reimburse up to 160 employers for certain expenses. Economic Development Secretary Manuel A. Laboy Rivera said the funding will […]
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the obligation of an additional $11.4 million in funds for 97 post-Hurricane María recovery and reconstruction projects in Puerto Rico. That amount includes nearly $2.5 million assigned to the Office of the Governor at La Fortaleza in Old San Juan for a number of repairs to the building’s third […]
The Puerto Rico Treasury Department is waiting on its federal counterpart to issue the guidelines to cut $1,200 checks to eligible island residents as part of the CARES Act. However, the agency announced that it is considering advancing the disbursements after the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico approved the local government’s request […]
Puerto Rico-based nonprofit Open Spaces warned Monday that the “corruption virus” incubates in emergency situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic and proposed a series of measures to Gov. Wanda Vázquez and Health Secretary Lorenzo González, as recent cases have come to light about shady government purchases or questions about their delivery. In a letter, Open […]
Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez announced tighter conditions on the lockdown and curfew in place during Holy Week that starts today. The measures include ordering the closure of most businesses on the island on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday. Only drugstores will be open for prescription pick-up and gas stations may remain open to […]
The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics announced the launch of a daily data collection and consolidation system for hospitals to provide data of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases. The system was developed in conjunction with the Health Department and the government’s COVID-19 Medical Task Force, said Institute Executive Director Orville Disdier. Through this system, epidemiologists […]
Puerto Rico’s public safety agencies will get nearly $8.9 million from the U.S. Department of Justice, to respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. The agency will disburse a total of $850 million across the U.S. mainland through its Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation. It will […]
The Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs has issued a new set of rules that condominium residents must abide by during the COVID-19 lockdown and curfew, agency Secretary Carmen Salgado confirmed. The new conditions included in Order 2020-010 seek to respond to several complaints filed at the agency known as DACO about “extreme measures” adopted […]
The U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Treasury announced the start of the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, to provide relief to millions of small businesses so they can sustain their businesses and keep their workers employed. “This unprecedented public-private partnership is going to assist small businesses with accessing capital quickly. Our […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced that the agency has extended the deadline for ReConnect Pilot Program applications to April 15. “In light of the COVID-19 National Emergency, USDA is extending the application deadline for round two of ReConnect Pilot Program funding to give rural businesses, cooperatives, and communities extra time to apply […]
The Department of Economic Development and Commerce and the Treasury Department have reached an agreement so that those people who do business individually and have employees may receive an economic incentive of up to $1,500 — the same as a small and medium-sized company — to compensate for losses related to the COVID-19 emergency. The […]
Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez signed a new executive order establishing an extended lockdown and curfew period through April 12, escalating the fight to contain the local spread of the coronavirus COVID-19. The new order, which goes into effect today, confirms who can be on the roads and when, and businesses that may partially open […]
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