Caguas launches small business recovery loan program
April 7, 2020
The Caguas municipal government announced the availability of funds for emergency loans to the town’s small businesses, said Central Eastern Development Bank Executive Director Adrián Muñiz-Mariani. The entity known as BADECO for its initials in Spanish will be responsible for granting commercial emergency loans to city business owners, as part of a series of municipal […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1738 Views
Puerto Rico governor tightens lockdown during Holy Week
April 6, 2020
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 […]
chat_bubble1 Comment
visibility2171 Views
Popular disburses $2.6M in emergency loans, adjusts operations in wake of COVID-19
April 6, 2020
Banco Popular announced the approval and disbursement of the first loans granted by the institution under the Paycheck Protection Program established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). The program went into effect on April 3 and will run through June 30. On Friday, Popular approved some $2.6 million in loans and, […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1381 Views
FCC’s $200M COVID-19 telehealth program includes Puerto Rico providers
April 6, 2020
The Federal Communications Commission voted to adopt a $200 million telehealth program to support healthcare providers responding to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The agency will accept applications from eligible health care providers in Puerto Rico, this media outlet confirmed. U.S. Congress appropriated the funds as part of the CARES Act, the agency said. Through the […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1728 Views
Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics unveils COVID-19 hospital data system
April 6, 2020
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 […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility2272 Views
USDA opens 2nd call for distance learning, telemedicine program funding
April 6, 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it has opened a second application window for funding under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program, making $72 million available to help rural residents gain access to health care and educational opportunities. “Due to the COVID-19 National Emergency, USDA is providing an additional window for those who cannot […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility2159 Views
U.S. Census data collection in Puerto Rico remains ‘on track’ despite lockdown
April 6, 2020
The U.S. Census is looking remain “on track” with its data collection process in Puerto Rico, where a lockdown in place since Mar. 15 has sidelined its door-to-door surveyors. María Olmedo-Malagón, program manager for the 2020 Census communications campaign, said this is so because the agency has several other methods in place to collect the […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1720 Views
Symptom tracking ‘vital’ to control contagion of COVID-19 in Puerto Rico
April 3, 2020
A coalition of academic and private-sector organizations has unveiled the Epidemiological Surveillance System platform, which allows the tracking and publishing results on the evolution of COVID-19 contagion in Puerto Rico. The platform’s creators include the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust, a program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, Ponce Health Sciences University […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility2430 Views
DMO: Puerto Rico’s drop in occupancy ‘swifter, more severe’ vs. U.S. mainland
April 3, 2020
Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s destination marketing organization, confirmed that the local drop in occupancy has been “swifter and more severe” in Puerto Rico, with -71%, than the United States’ average of -56%. Part of that difference has to do with the fact that Gov. Wanda Vázquez established strict restrictions starting Mar. 15 to contain […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1498 Views
3D printers begin making face shields to control COVID-19 in Puerto Rico
April 3, 2020
Makers against COVID19 and The Rogue United have join forces with the mission of mass-producing face shields during this week to deliver them to health personnel next week who are on the front lines during this epidemic. The goal is to make 100 face shields a day, the groups said, confirming they are calling on […]
chat_bubble9 Comments
visibility10375 Views
Grupo Guayacán launches virtual lecture series during COVID-19 emergency
April 3, 2020
Starting in April, Grupo Guayacán will host a series of virtual talks providing tools and best practices for small and medium businesses, to help them keep their business afloat and successfully face the COVID-19 pandemic challenges. The virtual lecture series “Preparing for the Impossible: Virtual Talks for Businesses in Times of Crisis,” will provide information […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1525 Views
Carolina municipal gov’t cleans, disinfects high-traffic areas
April 3, 2020
As a measure to prevent communal contagion from COVID-19, the Municipality of Carolina has established a protocol to clean and disinfect areas with businesses and shops that provide essential services to the community, the mayor’s office confirmed. The municipal Fire Department is in charge of the effort, conducted during the curfew period in place for […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1362 Views
8 food trucks park their kitchens at 4 Sam’s Clubs stores
April 3, 2020
When Sam’s Club announced a week ago that it would be opening its parking facilities to food trucks to do business within their parking facilities, eight signed up at all four stores, the mega-retailer confirmed. There are two trucks in each of the Sam’s locations: La Cuchara and 3 Men, 2 Wagon are at Kennedy […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility2284 Views
Temporary rental assistance available to Puerto Rico earthquake survivors
April 3, 2020
Residents whose homes were made uninhabitable by the Dec. 28 to Feb. 4 earthquakes may be eligible for temporary rental assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the agency announced. Rental assistance does not have to be repaid and may be used to lease a house, apartment or manufactured home or any other temporary housing […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1840 Views
Caguas Municipal Police to use drones to enforce curfew
April 3, 2020
As part of the security plan adopted after the extension of the curfew established by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Caguas Municipal Police will use a drone to fly over the city to detect violations to the curfew. That includes traffic, groupings of people or the non-compliance of some […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1722 Views
A Dow Jones/Factiva content provider since 2014
Subscribe to our Dollars & Sense podcast!
NIMB ON SOCIAL MEDIA