U.S. Dept. of Labor continues compliance assistance efforts in the USVI
April 11, 2019
U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division representatives are working in St. Croix and St. Thomas to provide compliance assistance and education for employers, and to investigate payroll practices related to ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricanes Irma and María, the agency announced. WHD will review employers’ compliance with federal labor statutes including the McNamara-O’Hara […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1234 Views
PREPA’s situation ‘complex,’ result of ‘perfect storm’
April 10, 2019
The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s transformation will require a strong energy policy as well as an implementation strategy that considers the island’s “complex situation.” Such was the opinion of Tomás J. Torres, executive director of the Puerto Rico Institute for a Competitive and Sustainable Economy, in testimony presented before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee […]
chat_bubble2 Comments
visibility2371 Views
Business continuity summit stresses relationship between emergencies, the economy
March 28, 2019
Businesses “must plan and always be prepared” for emergencies and strategize to guarantee the continuity of operations in the wake of a natural disaster. Ernesto Morales, responsible for the National Weather Service Emergency Notifications, Economist Carlos Colón de Armas, Benjamin Nieves, expert in public safety and emergency management, and WorldNet Telecommunications Commercial Director Javier Santos, […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1466 Views
P.R. gov’t, FEMA announce agreement to expedite recovery fund allocations
March 26, 2019
In this episode of Dollar$ and $ense, we share with you information provided during a news conference in San Juan about the agreement reached between the Central Office of Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (known as COR3) and FEMA for the review and reimbursement approval of federal recovery funds. Heading the news conference were Omar Marrero, […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1611 Views
P.R. population not displaced by hurricanes for now — It’s the economy, study says
March 21, 2019
People invested in Puerto Rico’s long-term disaster recovery efforts face many obstacles, including — but not limited to — debt, recession, stronger hurricanes, utilities, and sovereignty. All these challenges require robust, independent, and trustworthy socio-economic data to lay the foundation for successful private investment and public policy, according to a paper written by a team […]
chat_bubble9 Comments
visibility2950 Views
P.R. gov’t’s low post-María death toll pushed Harvard to continue study
March 18, 2019
By Jeniffer Wiscovitch-Padilla, Center for Investigative Journalism Four days before the results of the “Mortality in Puerto Rico” study were published after Hurricane María, Harvard University reported the findings to the government of Puerto Rico, but was not acknowledged. It was not until “The New York Times” contacted the government to talk about the results […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1612 Views
GAO report confirms FEMA’s slow response to P.R.’s recovery funding needs
March 15, 2019
A report released Thursday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office confirmed that of the $132 billion that Puerto Rico government officials estimated are needed to rebuild after the 2017 hurricanes, it has only received $4 billion. The Federal Emergency Management Agency —the lead federal agency responsible for assisting Puerto Rico as it recovers — has […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1380 Views
Somos Solar named semi-finalist in int’l award competition for Ciales project
March 15, 2019
The Somos Solar Foundation was selected as a worldwide finalist of the Microgrid Greater Good Awards for its project to convert Toro Negro into the island’s first solar community, the nonprofit announced. The awards are granted bypublication Microgrid Knowledge to solar energy microgrid projects that can be replicated, that offer a benefit to society and […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1244 Views
Burlington reopens final store impacted by Hurricane María
March 14, 2019
National off-price retailer Burlington Stores is marking its10th anniversary on the in Puerto Rico as the reopening of all of its 11 stores on the island in the aftermath of Hurricane María. The Humacao store, which has been closed, will be back in business Mar. 15. “As Puerto Rico continues to rebuild and recover, the […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility2418 Views
P.R. gets $6.2M for Environmental Quality Board, Head Start and Health
March 12, 2019
Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner in Washington, Jenniffer González, announced the approval of $6.2 million in federal funds allocated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services for child care, health services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The EPA approved $105,600 for the Environmental Quality Board to help […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1383 Views
Discover P.R. finalist for Ad Age ‘Start-Up of the Year’ award
March 12, 2019
Puerto Rico’s first-ever Destination Marketing Organization, Discover Puerto Rico, is being recognized as a finalist in the 2019 Ad Age A-List and Creativity Awards “Start-Up of the Year” category for “making a strong impact since its inception July 2018.” This recognition is one of many notable accolades already earned by the organization in just eight […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1146 Views
P.R. residents got short-ended in post-hurricane assistance, report shows
March 11, 2019
While Puerto Rico proportionally requested more assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after the 2017 hurricanes, it got significantly less than what the U.S. government granted Louisiana, Texas and Florida when they felt the brunt of earlier storms. “Consistent with the lower socioeconomic status of its population, Puerto Rico proportionally requested more assistance from […]
chat_bubble4 Comments
visibility2376 Views
COR3 office unveils website to provide updates on recovery funding, projects
February 20, 2019
The Central Office of Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency, known as COR3, unveiled its “transparency portal,” or the website created to provide information about Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to be used to rebuild Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane María. COR3 Executive Director Omar Marrero said the website will be updated regularly, as FEMA […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1973 Views
U.S. Dept. of Labor recovers $5.6M in back wages for hurricane recovery workers
February 12, 2019
Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division have resulted in the recovery of nearly $5.6 million in back wages and benefits owed to 993 employees of nine subcontractors that provided power generator operation support for hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, the agency announced. WHD investigators found that the subcontractors violated […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1444 Views
Estudios Técnicos: Reconstruction funds to drive 4.2% economic growth in ’20
February 11, 2019
The release of $1.5 billion in post-Hurricane María CDBG-DR reconstruction funds will spur a positive momentum in Puerto Rico’s economy, which should grow by 4.2 percent in fiscal year 2020, and will remain positive until 2022, according to new estimates by Estudios Técnicos Inc. “This week the [U.S.] Department of Housing announced the release of […]
chat_bubble0 Comment
visibility1600 Views
A Dow Jones/Factiva content provider since 2014
Subscribe to our Dollars & Sense podcast!
NIMB ON SOCIAL MEDIA