Small businesses in Puerto Rico represent a significant portion of the local economy. This three-part series of events, designed to expand opportunities for those small businesses, includes forums on access to financing, government procurement contracts, and international trade. The series is cosponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the U.S. Virgin Islands/Puerto Rico District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Access to Capital
The Access to Capital for Small Business Forum is an opportunity for small businesses to learn about loan guarantee programs from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico (EDB), and the Corporación para el Financiamiento Empresarial del Comercio y de las Comunidades (COFECC). Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one consultations with representatives from the Puerto Rico Small Business Technology and Development Center (PR-SBTDC), Women’s Business Institute, SCORE and other service providers.
Schedule of events and speakers for the January 31, 2013 forum at the University of Puerto Rico—Carolina Campus.
Expert Panelists
 
Ivan E. Ríos Ména
Deputy Director
Department of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico
Arturo Carrión
Executive Vice President
Asociación de Bancos de Puerto Rico
 
María de los Ángeles de Jesús
Deputy District Director
U.S. Virgin Island/Puerto Rico District Office, Small Business Administration
 
Giovanna Piovanetti
Excutive President
Corporación para el Financiamiento Empresarial del Comercio y de las Comunidades
Carmen Marti
Executive Director
Puerto Rico Small Business Technology Development Centers (PR-SBTDC)
Ivelisse T. Acevedo
Interim President
Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico
 
Néstor Kercadó
President
Néstor Kercadó Estrada & Co.,
PSC
 
U.S. Federal Resources
USDA’s Rural Development Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program provides business financing in rural communities by bolstering the existing private credit structure through the guarantee of quality loans.
The U.S. Small Business Administration, through its Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands District Office, offers information on small business loans, grants, bonds and other financial assistance including the Puerto Rico 2012-2013 Small Business Resource Guide.
Non-Profit Resources
Grupo Guayacán provides support to local entrepreneurs in the form of business plan assistance, forums, and various business plan competitions and trainings.
The Institute provides women with individualized consulting services and training workshops on topics of interest to new and established businesses.
The PR Chamber of Commerce is one of Puerto Rico’s oldest institutions assisting local businesses by providing seminars and trainings, networking opportunities, and organizing trade delegations.
PR-SBTDC provides planning, finance, marketing, human resources, accounting, legal, import and export, technology development and marketing services to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Puerto Rico Government Resources
DDEC and its various umbrella agencies serve to implement public policies designed to encourage business development in Puerto Rico.
COFECC provides business credit and education to small and medium businesses, the self-employed, and entrepreneurs. COFECC administers a rural revolving loan fund and also participates in SBA’s 504 Loan Program.
The Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico administers various programs to support small and medium-sized enterprises, including direct lending and credit guarantees, some offered in conjunction with the Small Business Administration. Self-employed and small to midsized businesses in the following sectors are eligible to apply for financing: Manufacturing, Agriculture, Commerce, Tourism, and General Services.
The Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico administers the Development Fund Loan Guarantee Program, which has received commitments from participating banks for $800 million in new, refinanced, and restructured loans during the first year of the program. The GDB also administers the Desarrollo para el Pueblo program, which targets municipalities with unemployment rates exceeding 20 percent and engages with local authorities to provide firms with technical assistance and access to funding.
Report on the Competitiveness of Puerto Rico's Economy
Report on the Competitiveness of Puerto Rico's Economy    June 29, 2012
Analysis by the New York Fed's on the challenges facing Puerto Rico's economy and its recommendations on how to capitalize on the Island’s strengths to promote growth. The report, presented in both English and Spanish, represents the Bank's effort, made in consultation with local, national and international experts, as well as stakeholders on the Island itself.
Opportunities for Government Procurement
The United States government has set a goal for the small business share of federal contracts of 23 percent or roughly $115 billion each year.1 The forum will showcase procurement opportunities in the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Government of Puerto Rico. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one consultations with procurement officers from each represented agency.
Schedule of events and speakers for the April 30, 2013 forum at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico—Metro Campus.
Expert Panelists
 
Christina Kite
Senior Vice President
Corporate Group Strategy, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
 
Jeff Crow
Senior Vice President
Contract and Procurement, Federal Reserve Information Technology
 
Linda Washington-Douglas
Program Specialist
Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
 
Trisha Bursey
Assistant Director
Corporate Contracting Section, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Yvette T. Collazo
Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands District Director
U.S. Small Business Administration
Javier A. Rivera-Aquino
Executive Director
Puerto Rico Industrial Investment Board

Pedro Acevedo
Program Manager
Puerto Rico Federal Contracting Center

U.S. Federal Resources
The U.S. Small Business Administration, through its Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands District Office, offers information on small business loans, grants, bonds and other financial assistance including the Puerto Rico 2012-2013 Small Business Resource Guide.
Non-Profit Resources
Grupo Guayacán provides support to local entrepreneurs in the form of business plan assistance, forums, and various business plan competitions and trainings.
The PR Chamber of Commerce is one of Puerto Rico’s oldest institutions assisting local businesses by providing seminars and trainings, networking opportunities, and organizing trade delegations.
PRFCC helps small businesses obtain government contracts with the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, state and federal prime contractors. Assistance is provided at no cost to small businesses (as defined by the Small Business Administration) that have a product or service needed by a government agency.
Report on the Competitiveness of Puerto Rico's Economy
Report on the Competitiveness of Puerto Rico's Economy    June 29, 2012
Analysis by the New York Fed's on the challenges facing Puerto Rico's economy and its recommendations on how to capitalize on the Island’s strengths to promote growth. The report, presented in both English and Spanish, represents the Bank's effort, made in consultation with local, national and international experts, as well as stakeholders on the Island itself.
Financing Programs for International Trade
This forum is an opportunity for small businesses to learn the basics about special financing programs from the Export Import Bank, U.S. Small Business Administration and other government entities. Participants ready to make the leap into the international market will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one consultations with representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Export Import Bank, and the Small Business Administration to learn about specific programs available to small business owners.
The International Trade Clinic will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, from 8:45am-3:00pm in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Expert Panelists
 
José F. Burgos (bio)
Director
U.S. Department of Commerce for Puerto Rico and the United States Virgins Islands
 
Dayanira Diaz (bio)
Promoexport Director
Compañía de Comercio y Exportación de Puerto Rico

 
María de los Ángeles de Jesús (bio)
Deputy District Director
U.S. Virgin Island/Puerto Rico District Office, Small Business Administration

 
 
Carmen Marti (bio)
Executive Director
Puerto Rico Small Business Technology and Development Center
 
Elena Méndez (bio)
Regional Director, Eastern Region
Export-Import Bank of the U.S.


 
José J. Villamil (bio)
Chairman and CEO
Estudios Técnico


 
Clara E. Santiago (bio)
Statistics Supervisor
U.S. Census Bureau


 
 
U.S. Federal Resources
The U.S. Small Business Administration, through its Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands District Office, offers information on small business loans, grants, bonds and other financial assistance including the Puerto Rico 2012-2013 Small Business Resource Guide.
The U.S. Department of Commerce, through its San Juan Export Assistance Center, is part of an international network ready to assist Puerto Rican companies to develop international markets, identify trade finance and provide market research.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank's mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. Ex-Im Bank enables U.S. companies—large and small—to turn export opportunities into real sales that help to maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national economy. Visit exim.gov to learn more about their products for U.S. small business exporters.
Foreign Trade is the official source for U.S. export and import statistics and responsible for issuing regulations governing the reporting of all export shipments from the United States. If you're searching for import or export statistics, information on export regulations, commodity classifications, or a host of other trade related topics, this is the place to get the information you need.
Non-Profit Resources
Grupo Guayacán provides support to local entrepreneurs in the form of business plan assistance, forums, and various business plan competitions and trainings.
The PR Chamber of Commerce is one of Puerto Rico’s oldest institutions assisting local businesses by providing seminars and trainings, networking opportunities, and organizing trade delegations.
PR-SBTDC's Center for International Trade provides planning, finance, marketing, human resources, accounting, legal, technology development and marketing services to entrepreneurs and small businesses ready for international markets.
Puerto Rico Government Resources
The Puerto Rico Commerce and Export Company provides technical assistance from business plan development to step by step assistance for expanding your business.
Report on the Competitiveness of Puerto Rico's Economy
Report on the Competitiveness of Puerto Rico's Economy    June 29, 2012
Analysis by the New York Fed's on the challenges facing Puerto Rico's economy and its recommendations on how to capitalize on the Island’s strengths to promote growth. The report, presented in both English and Spanish, represents the Bank's effort, made in consultation with local, national and international experts, as well as stakeholders on the Island itself.
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