Foundation for Puerto Rico

Our headquarters are not just an office; it is El Colaboratorio, a space designed to incubate ideas, connect talent, and foster innovation. Great ideas were born and grew here, such as the creation of the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) Discover Puerto Rico, and organizations were incubated that now have their own headquarters, including ConPRmetidos, Centro para Emprendedores, VisitRico Agroturismo Puerto Rico, and many more. ?? At El Colaboratorio, we have shown that when different sectors work together, real solutions can be created for Puerto Rico’s development. ?? What impact do you think collaboration has on the future of the country? Share your thoughts with us!

According to El Nuevo Día, the celebration of sporting events on the island had an impact of $78.8 million in the fiscal year 2022-2023. The IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Rico is one of the most significant sporting events held locally, attracting hundreds of athletes and their companions to Puerto Rico and positively impacting our economy. Beyond directly benefiting hotels and competition-related services, we must remember that it creates a ripple effect, leading these visitors to various parts of the island and contributing to the economy of our communities in different ways. Many of them stay for additional days and bring companions, spending at businesses such as gas stations, restaurants, shops, pharmacies, and supermarkets across the island. Below, you can find some of the ways the event is projected to impact our economy.

When Foundation for Puerto Rico decided to establish its headquarters, it was no coincidence that the organization chose Santurce as its home. We saw in this neighborhood a symbol of Puerto Rican creativity, innovation, and resilience. In 2013, through Imagina Santurce—an initiative aimed at fostering dialogue, collaboration, and action to achieve sustainable, equitable, and inclusive urban revitalization—our organization bet on a vibrant Santurce, where art, entrepreneurship, and community would come together to transform the city into a model of sustainable growth. Today, that vision is a reality, and we witness a Santurce full of life, with small businesses led by Puerto Ricans, art galleries, parks, open offices, and even hotels. ???? How do you imagine the future of your community? Share your vision in the comments!

Recently, seven members of our team completed the certification in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management through the STAMP (Sustainable Tourism Asset Management Program) from Cornell University. The STAMP program, led by renowned professor Megan Epler Wood, focuses on key strategies for managing tourism sustainably, ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental conservation, and the well-being of local communities. During the certification, our team gained knowledge on managing carrying capacity and “over-tourism,” strategic planning focused on tourism impacts, strengthening sustainable infrastructure, and financing for destination conservation, among other topics. This experience allows us to apply innovative tools in our projects, aligning tourism development with sustainability, resilience, and community inclusion. At a time when Puerto Rico faces environmental and social challenges, strengthening our sustainable tourism strategies is essential to ensure that the sector’s growth benefits both our visitors and our communities.

Today marks the celebration of Global Tourism Resilience Day, a date proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to highlight the importance of fostering resilient and sustainable tourism that can withstand challenges and emergencies. At Foundation for Puerto Rico, we drive the island’s sustainable economic development through the Visitor Economy, promoting responsible tourism management. We aim to ensure that tourism growth benefits our communities while preserving our natural and cultural resources for future generations. In recent months, we’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Megan Epler-Wood, director of the Sustainable Tourism Asset Management Program (STAMP) at Cornell University. We’ve learned from her vast experience working with destinations worldwide and her current collaboration with El Yunque National Forest. Want to learn more? Stay tuned to our social media platforms in the coming weeks, where we’ll release a special episode of our #podcast #UnaCitaEnElColab, featuring our conversation with Prof. Epler-Wood.

Today is Digital Learning Day, which highlights the transformative impact of technology in education. At Foundation for Puerto Rico, we believe that access to digital tools and training in their use are key to strengthening our communities and business ecosystems, enabling them to become more resilient and build more prosperous businesses. As part of our commitment to capacity building to drive economic development through the Visitor Economy, last year, we developed a series of online workshops in collaboration with our partner, Brands of Americas. These workshops educate small business owners on topics such as Social Media Management and Digital Marketing Strategies. Are you interested in the topic? Find the workshops here: https://lnkd.in/e2ZHGyfc

More than a decade ago, a group of leaders committed to Puerto Rico's economic development identified an opportunity: to strengthen the island through innovation, knowledge, and collaboration. This is how Foundation for Puerto Rico was born, with the mission of unleashing the potential of our communities and building a prosperous future for all. ?? Since then, we have worked tirelessly to transform Puerto Rico into a vibrant, resilient destination full of opportunities. ?? Do you know of any FPR projects that have impacted your community? Tell us in the comments.

On February 6, the sub-recipient entity of the Whole Community Resilience Planning (WCRP) Program, the IBTS - Institute for Building Technology and Safety, presented the Community Resilience Plan (CRP) for the Tiburones community in the municipality of Ponce. This plan aims to be a comprehensive tool to strengthen community capacities in preparation, response, recovery, and resilience in the face of climate change. During the event, residents discussed the various goals, objectives, and resilience actions that will guide the implementation of the CRP, developed collaboratively with the community over the past year. Foundation for Puerto Rico (FPR) provides technical assistance to the 20 sub-recipient entities of the WCRP Program, which develop resilience plans in collaboration with 78 communities in Puerto Rico. The WCRP Program is a collaborative effort funded with CDBG-DR funds through the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH). #CommunityResilience #SustainableDevelopment

Puerto Rico finalized commercial agreements during the 45th edition of the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) and achieved results this past Sunday that point to an increase in the number of European visitors to the island. Discover Puerto Rico, the destination marketing organization (DMO), held around 20 meetings with European tourism companies that sell travel packages to the island, which could lead to a higher number of Spanish and European visitors coming to Puerto Rico. As a result of these and other efforts, Iberia Airlines will be offering daily flights from Madrid to Puerto Rico. ? The DMO continues working to diversify and expand tourism demand beyond travelers with U.S. passports. This would result in a greater number of visitors, generating a larger economic impact. By the end of 2024, the DMO reported that annual visitor spending increased to $4.6 billion. ? An important element that the agencies responsible for promoting tourism should consider, and something we at Foundation for Puerto Rico continuously work on, is ensuring that these visitors are dispersed across the various regions of our archipelago, thereby impacting more communities and decentralizing tourism activity. Currently, the DMO has active marketing efforts in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Colombia, as well as exploratory promotions in Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Germany, and Ireland. Do you think Puerto Rico will benefit from these agreements? ? Learn more at:

Nonprofit organizations generate over 150,000 jobs and serve approximately 700,000 individuals, primarily women, children, and the elderly. The freezing of federal funds presents a dire challenge for nonprofits like ours, limiting our ability to maintain operations, expand services, and reach those who need our support the most. Support your favorite nonprofit by donating today. If you wish to make a donation to Foundation for Puerto Rico, donate at https://lnkd.in/exTDPZSc Read more in the following article.?