Foundation For Puerto Rico Inc

THIS EDA INVESTMENT SUPPORTS LONG-TERM RECOVERY PLANNING FOR SIX REGIONS IN PUERTO RICO OUTSIDE OF SAN JUAN THAT WERE IMPACTED BY HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA. THE INVESTMENT WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CREATE A DESTINATION PLAN FOR EACH REGION, BUILD THE CAPACITY OF EXISTING SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESSES, ASSIST WITH THE CREATION OF NEW TOURISM RELATED COMPANIES AND PROVIDE WORKSHOPS PROMOTING BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND PREPAREDNESS. THE PLAN WILL ALSO ASSIST WITH SUSTAINABILITY IN EACH REGION AND ESTABLISH STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL LEADERS, GOVERNMENT AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO INCREASE RESILIENCY AND PREPAREDNESS FOR FUTURE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS.

AWARD TYPE: PROJECT GRANT; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH PANDEMIC RELIEF PROGRAMS AND RECOVERY SERVICES TO SMALL BUSINESSES.; DELIVERABLES: GRANTEES WILL PROVIDE REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES AND PROGRESS TOWARD STATED GOALS TO SBA ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: INCREASE AWARENESS OF AND PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMS OF THE U.S SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS THAT FALL INTO A HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED CATEGORY, INCLUDING MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS (BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR), ENTREPRENEURS WITH DISABILITIES, LGBTQ ENTREPRENEURS, RURAL ENTREPRENEURS; VETERANS AND MILITARY ENTREPRENEURS (INCLUDING SPOUSES), WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, INNOVATIVE STARTUPS, MICRO BUSINESSES, AND SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESSES; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: GRANTEES (HUBS) AND THEIR CONTRACTORS (SPOKES) WILL PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH PANDEMIC RELIEF PROGRAMS AND RECOVERY SERVICES TO SMALL BUSINESSES. THIS SUPPORT TAKES THE FORM OF 1:1 COUNSELING AND GROUP TRAININGS.

SCC-CIVIC-FA TRACK B DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE: PARTICIPATORY CIVIC TECHNOLOGY TO CLOSE THE LAST-MILE DISASTER RELIEF GAP IN PUERTO RICO -WE SEEK TO PILOT A PARTICIPATORY CIVIC TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE, RE+CONNECT, TO CLOSE THE LAST-MILE DISASTER RELIEF GAP AND CREATE LONG-TERM RESILIENCE FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITH SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY, DATA INTELLIGENCE, AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE. BUILDING ON EXTENSIVE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DESIGN EFFORTS FROM THE PAST THREE YEARS, WE AIM TO MOBILIZE, INFORM, AND COORDINATE COLLECTIVE ACTION ACROSS RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT TO DIRECT THE RIGHT RESPONSES, TO THE RIGHT PLACES, AT THE RIGHT TIME. THE PILOT INITIATIVE INTEGRATES AN ACCESSIBLE, RELIABLE, AND USER-FRIENDLY SOFTWARE APPLICATION WITH AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM TO ENABLE AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO ACT AS ?COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS? TO CROWDSOURCE KEY INFORMATION TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES PROVISION AND COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THE FACE OF DISASTERS. THROUGH THE 12-MONTH STAGE 2 PERIOD, WE AIM TO CROWDSOURCE INFORMATION FOR AT LEAST 50,000 RESIDENTS FROM ACROSS PUERTO RICO, WITH THE GOAL OF YIELDING A SUSTAINABLE, SCALABLE, AND TRANSFERABLE INITIATIVE FOR THE ENTIRE ARCHIPELAGO IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ISLAND, AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS THOSE IN PUERTO RICO, WILL FACE MORE FREQUENT AND DESTRUCTIVE DISASTERS SUCH AS HURRICANES AND FLOODS. OUR INITIATIVE AIMS BETTER PREPARE FOR FUTURE DISASTERS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS: 1) STRENGTHEN SOCIAL BONDS AS THE CORE OF BUILDING RESILIENCE AND SURVIVAL MECHANISMS. 2) INTEGRATE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE DISASTER MANAGEMENT MORE HUMAN-CENTERED AND EFFECTIVE. 3) ENHANCE COLLABORATION AS A PATH TO BUILDING RESILIENCE AND REDUCING RISK. 4) PROVIDE VALUABLE LESSONS FOR BUILDING DISASTER RESILIENCE AND RISK REDUCTION IN OTHER CONTEXTS. OUR PROJECT USES PARTICIPATORY DESIGN RESEARCH TO BUILD A CIVIC TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE THAT ENHANCES SEVERAL KEY FACTORS OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE: 1) INCLUDING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION INTO OVERALL DISASTER MITIGATION AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES; 2) SUPPORTING COLLABORATION THROUGH ENRICHING SOCIAL CAPITAL WITHIN AND ACROSS KEY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS IN DISASTER-PRONE AREAS; AND 3) AUGMENTING AND FACILITATING PROSOCIAL BEHAVIORS BY INFORMAL ACTORS DURING EMERGENCY RESPONSE. WE BRING TOGETHER AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM TO DESIGN, VALIDATE, AND PILOT A MORE ADAPTIVE AND INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATORY CIVIC TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION IN PUERTO RICO, WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR OTHER RELEVANT CONTEXTS SUCH AS THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE GULF COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. OUR FINDINGS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO AN IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES THAT HINDER THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF DISASTER INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE, LEADING TO IMPROVED COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION ACROSS INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND FORMAL INSTITUTIONS TO ACHIEVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT GOALS. THIS PROJECT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY CIVIC AND THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCOR). THE CIVIC PROGRAM IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY NSF, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AND DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RCDI PUERTO RICO DAF

COMMUNITY FACILITY PERSISTENT POVERTY GRANT

CF GRANTS-SECTION 6006 ESSENTIAL CF TECHNICAL AND TRAINING (TAT)

SCC-CIVIC-PG TRACK B DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE: PARTICIPATORY CIVIC TECHNOLOGY TO CLOSE THE LAST-MILE DISASTER RELIEF GAP IN PUERTO RICO -THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO PILOT A PARTICIPATORY CIVIC TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE, RE+CONNECT, TO CLOSE THE LAST-MILE DISASTER RELIEF GAP AND CREATE LONG-TERM RESILIENCE FOR UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES IN PUERTO RICO. HOME TO 3.2 MILLION PEOPLE, PUERTO RICO IS CONFRONTED WITH MORE FREQUENT AND MORE DESTRUCTIVE DISASTERS SUCH AS HURRICANES AND FLOODS. THE NEED TO BETTER PREPARE THE ISLAND FOR FUTURE DISASTERS IS IMMENSE AND URGENT. BUILDING ON COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DESIGN EFFORTS FROM THE PAST THREE YEARS, THIS PROJECT AIMS TO MOBILIZE, INFORM, AND COORDINATE COLLECTIVE ACTION THROUGH A MOBILE APPLICATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM ACROSS RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT TO DIRECT THE RIGHT RESPONSES, TO THE RIGHT PLACES, AT THE RIGHT TIME. CURRENTLY, THERE IS LIMITED GUIDANCE ON HOW TO DESIGN SUCH SYSTEMS THAT EFFECTIVELY LEVERAGE THE STRENGTHS, RESOURCES, AND BEST PRACTICES OF COMMUNITIES AND CITIZENS IN RESPONSE TO DISASTERS. THIS PROJECT BRINGS TOGETHER A TEAM WITH EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCES ACROSS HUMANITARIAN INNOVATION, PARTICIPATORY DESIGN, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE, DISASTER INFORMATICS, SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO BOTH ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING IN KEY FIELDS RELATED TO DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND GENERATE MEASURABLE, INCLUSIVE, AND EQUITABLE SOCIAL IMPACTS. SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INITIATIVE WILL ENHANCE PEOPLES' ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES BY STRENGTHENING SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, IMPROVING LOCAL DISASTER INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE INCLUSION, AND FACILITATING COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION ACROSS STAKEHOLDERS TO ACHIEVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT GOALS. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO BUILD, TEST, AND PILOT AN INITIATIVE THAT INTEGRATES AN ACCESSIBLE, RELIABLE, AND USER-FRIENDLY SOFTWARE APPLICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM TO CROWDSOURCE KEY INFORMATION TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES PROVISION AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. WITH THE GOAL OF YIELDING A SUSTAINABLE, SCALABLE, AND TRANSFERABLE INITIATIVE ACROSS THE ISLAND, THIS PROJECT AIMS TO REACH AT LEAST 100,000 RESIDENTS FROM THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND GENERATE KNOWLEDGE AND LESSONS LEARNED TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR EFFORTS IN OTHER DISASTER-PRONE REGIONS. THE STAGE 1 AWARD WILL SUPPORT A SERIES OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES TO: 1) SOLIDIFY ROLES, GOVERNANCE, AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE ACROSS THE PROPOSING TEAM; 2) STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION WITH IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS (CIVIC PARTNERS WHO WILL BE POTENTIAL USERS OF THE INITIATIVE) AND EXPAND STAKEHOLDER BUY-IN; AND 3) REFINE THE VISION AND PLAN FOR EXECUTING THE PILOT PROJECT IN STAGE 2. THE TEAM WILL REFINE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT; RESEARCH; COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; BUSINESS, IMPLEMENTATION, AND GROWTH; HUMANITARIAN ETHICS, DATA, AND TECHNOLOGY GOVERNANCE; AND MONITORING, EVALUATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND LEARNING. CIVIC IS A JOINT PROGRAM WITH NSF, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE, FEMA, AND DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY OFFICE. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.