Resident commissioner outlines plan to guide towns, nonprofits on federal funding opportunities

Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera

By THE STAR STAFF

Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera presented his Strategic Plan for Federal Funds this week, an initiative that turns his district office into a center for guidance and access to information on federal funds for municipalities and non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Puerto Rico.

“The objective of this plan is to stop municipalities and non-profit organizations from being left out of federal funding opportunities due to a lack of information, technical capacity, or orderly access to the processes,” the resident commissioner said. “The goal is for the island’s municipalities and organizations to be able to compete for federal funds with more information, better preparation, and a more organized approach. This plan gives us the structure to achieve this by 2026 and to do even better in 2027.”

The plan envisions 2026 as a year of education and institutional strengthening, focused on building technical capacity, organizing a comprehensive inventory of projects, and standardizing the relationship between municipalities and NPOs with the district office, in coordination with the relevant federal agencies.

Key priorities of the plan include: developing technical capacity in proposal writing and grant management through an educational program of 12 to 16 webinars annually; establishing the district office as the official gateway to federal information, with a resource hub and a monthly newsletter for alerts and updates; decentralizing access to information through regional forums by senatorial district, targeting municipalities and nonprofit organizations; and maintaining an ongoing inventory of projects using standardized forms and internal management tools.

The plan addresses challenges faced by municipalities and nonprofit organizations, such as limited access to timely information from federal agencies and gaps in technical and regulatory preparedness. During the pilot year 2026, the District Office aims to reach more than 35 municipalities, engage 60 nonprofit organizations, maintain an inventory of at least 80 projects, and respond to 75% of inquiries within 72 hours or less.

Hernández Rivera also presented an interactive digital map, available at hernandez.house.gov, that provides transparency regarding federal investment in Puerto Rico by detailing the funds allocated by municipality and the projects impacted in each region of the island.

The strategy clarifies that the Resident Commissioner’s Office offers guidance, education and coordination with federal agencies, but does not draft proposals or prepare budgets for third parties, nor does it intervene in the allocation of funds, in strict compliance with congressional ethical standards.