top of page
Search

The League of Puerto Rican Cities introduces Federal Funds Navigator

Writer's picture: Liga de Ciudades de Puerto RicoLiga de Ciudades de Puerto Rico

(San Juan, Puerto Rico - March 19, 2024) - The League of Puerto Rican Cities today unveiled its Federal Funding Navigator, a web-based platform that makes it easier for municipalities to access funding opportunities created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act (IIJA and IRA). The innovative tool makes it easier for municipalities and the nonprofit organizations that work with them to access more than $107 billion available to fund projects that address climate change and infrastructure development in all U.S. jurisdictions, including Puerto Rico.


“Historically, despite being eligible, we are one of the territories that applies for the least funding, because navigating the federal agency ecosystem is overwhelming and complex for small municipal teams,” said Cristina Miranda Palacios, founding director of the League. “Jurisdictions with greater resources and experience managing these spaces are more successful in obtaining them; this Navigator will allow our municipalities and communities to directly access these opportunities and compete at the same level as other cities,” she added.



The League of Cities invested $142,000 in the development of the tool, which provides access to 146 sources of federal funds purged for Puerto Rico to subsidize transportation, renewable energy, and justice and climate change infrastructure projects, among others. Some of the agencies that have allocated the most funds to Puerto Rico include the Corps of Engineers, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The total funds for which Puerto Rico is eligible is six times the budget approved by the Fiscal Control Board for the year 2023-24.


Unlike other fund search portals, the Navigator has exclusive functionalities such as the readiness questionnaire for applicants to evaluate if they are ready to submit their application according to the requirements of each proposal and the viability of each initiative. In addition, it has the ability to store information on the projects they submit to each fund, so that they can update their evaluation questionnaire as they progress with their proposals.


The League of Cities commissioned the creation of the Federal Funds Navigator to HR&A, a U.S. consulting firm with experience in this type of project. The platform emulates a similar successful project developed for the city of Pittsburgh. “By simplifying the processes of screening, identifying opportunities and submitting proposals, we see an increase in the likelihood that applicants will get the grants they need to manage their projects and build resilient communities,” said Edgar Gomez, director of operations for the League.


The Navigator can be accessed on the League's website at www.ligadeciudadespr.com, and will remain available free of charge to all 78 municipalities as well as nonprofit organizations that work with them. Periodically, the League will update the tool, including translating it into Spanish, to respond to changes in funding and any other program adjustments.


In December, the League launched the Municipal Innovation Lab, a year-long training and technical assistance project to optimize municipal governance management. Aguada, Barceloneta, Gurabo, Hormigueros and Florida are participating in the Lab and will be accompanied by the League in the use of the Navigator.


“In the League we will continue to identify and develop initiatives that promote the evolution of our local governments and the large-scale transformation of Puerto Rico, from our municipalities,” said Miranda Palacios.

5 views0 comments

Comments


La Liga 1-1 Logo - Full Color IMAGE.png

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Thanks for suscribing!

  • Socials Icons-01
  • Socials Icons-04
  • Socials Icons-05
  • Socials Icons-03
  • Socials Icons-02

© 2023 | League of Puerto Rican Cities, Inc.

bottom of page