San Juan, Puerto Rico –November 12, 2024- Maximiliano J. Trujillo-Ortega, USDA Rural Development State Director for Puerto Rico hosted the1st meeting of the Rural Communities Development Innovation (RCDI) Program grantees, each awarded at $250,000. The recipients—Foundation for Puerto Rico, Centro para la Reconstrucción de; Habitat (CRH), Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), and Protectores de Cuencas—will utilize these funds to address critical needs within Puerto Rico’s Rural Partners Network (RPN) communities and enhance community resilience.
USDA Rural Development, through the RPN initiative, remains committed to fostering partnerships and supporting sustainable economic growth of Puerto Rico’s rural communities.
Trujillo-Ortega, highlighted the unique design of this RCDI grant, emphasizing that it does not require matching funds or operate on a reimbursement model. This approach ensures that organizations can focus resources on the immediate needs of the communities they serve, without facing financial barriers to access. “This grant model demonstrates our commitment to making federal resources more accessible to Puerto Rican organizations, so they can better serve the needs of our communities within the RPN footprint,” he stated.
The Rural Communities Development Innovation (RCDI) Program grant was created to support the technical assistance and capacity building of nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, and municipalities that form part of the Rural Partners Network (RPN) footprint. The RPN is a federal whole-of-government initiative that enhances access to federal resources and support for rural communities, bringing sustainable solutions to historically underserved areas.
• The Center for Habitat Reconstruction – was awarded $250,000.00 to support the municipalities of Adjuntas, Guánica, and Utuado, thereby impacting the Southwest and Central Mountain Region Community Networks. The Center will offer technical assistance to these municipalities on nuisance abatement and landbank development. The project will focus on creating programs and legal frameworks to promote affordable housing and address unoccupied properties.
• Foundation for Puerto Rico – was awarded $250,000.00 to support a combination of five nonprofit organizations and municipalities within the Eastern Region Community Network. Foundation for Puerto Rico will focus their efforts on assisting recipients within Fajardo, Naguabo, and El Yunque National Rainforest. The project will focus on developing a visitor economy, outdoor recreation, increasing mobility options, environmental stewardship of natural resources, and building climate resilience.
• Institute for Building Technology and Safety – was awarded $250,000.00 to support the Municipality of Ceiba and three Ceiba-based nonprofit organizations within the Eastern Region Community Network. IBTS will advise on planning and economic development, governance, disaster relief management, the solidarity economy, and green and sustainable initiatives.
• Protectores de Cuencas – was awarded $250,000.00 to support the Municipality of Guánica and six other nonprofit organizations throughout the Southwestern Community Network. Protectores de Cuencas will provide technical assistance to the Municipality of Guánica on tourism and sustainable economic development, as well as advising two nonprofit organizations each in Guánica, Maricao, and Mayaguez on capacity building and fostering socioeconomic development through natural, cultural, and tourism assets.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Portal to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/pr .
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