Another $44.8 million in FEMA funds to be disbursed for towns, agencies & nonprofits

Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Executive Director Eduardo Soria Rivera

By The Star Staff

In a significant step in Puerto Rico’s continuing rebuilding efforts, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced Sunday the approval of a new round of federal funds amounting to $44.8 million.

The financial support, secured by the governor during her time as resident commissioner, comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance program and is set to benefit municipalities, agencies and non-profit organizations across the island.

Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3) Executive Director Eduardo Soria Rivera emphasized the agency’s commitment to expediting the disbursement of the funds, as instructed by the governor.

With the latest approval, the total amount of federal funds approved in the first weeks of April has now reached $85 million. Soria Rivera stated that the funds should be reflected in sub-recipients’ accounts within the next three to five days.

Some of the major beneficiaries of the latest disbursements include the municipalities of Jayuya, Juana Díaz and Morovis, as well as the Mental Health and Ant-Addiction Services Administration, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. Non-profit organizations such as the Disciples of Christ Christian Church, King Jesus PR International Ministry Corp., and the University of the Caribbean of Puerto Rico will also receive a portion of the funds.

In a statement, Soria Rivera stressed the importance of working closely with sub-recipients, including municipalities, government agencies, and nonprofit entities, to ensure that the reconstruction of infrastructure is achieved in a resilient, transparent and efficient manner. That commitment, he said, has been demonstrated by the progress made in recent weeks, as evidenced by the significant disbursements being announced.

Soria Rivera also urged interested parties to stay updated on the progress of reconstruction projects by visiting the Reconstruction Execution Status section of the COR3 Transparency Portal.