Our Economic Empowerment Work in Puerto Rico

In order to give everyone across the archipelago the opportunity to participate and thrive in our economy and society, HF has established various programs and advocacy campaigns to equip community members with 21st century skills, expand access to tax benefits, and more.

Explore our work below

Claim Your Money PR

In 2022, Puerto Rico finally achieved parity in the federal expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the local expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) representing an estimated $2.6 billion transferred directly into the pockets of mostly low- and moderate-income residents. In response, HF joined with local partners to launch the “Claim Your Money PR” campaign to help community members tap into this benefit.

Since then, the campaign has directly helped more than 4,300 local residents with their taxes to receive this credit, representing millions that have gone to some of the most vulnerable families and communities in Puerto Rico.

Digital Skilling

Working with rural communities across Puerto Rico, we offer individuals digital trainings to ensure they have the 21st century skills they need to thrive in today’s economy. This includes trainings that focus on EXAMPLES.

Learn more about Hispanic Federation’s overall digital skilling work

A Vehicle to Support Small Businesses

Following Hurricane Maria, HF became acutely aware of the losses and vulnerability of small businesses. They were defenseless against the catastrophic damage created by the hurricane and had little to no access to the disaster aid federal loan programs for businesses. Evaluating how to best support these entrepreneurs and next generation models for climate resilient businesses, HF was excited about the opportunity to innovate by offering a new concept that would bridge the need for resiliency and flexibility simultaneously.

The PopTiendas Initiative emerged as a vehicle to help these small businesses and nonprofit organizations restart their work and revitalize economic recovery efforts for a crucial business sector. With the goal of boosting the entrepreneurial spirit in Puerto Rico, HF granted 30 PopTiendas to micro-entrepreneurs who lost businesses or wished to start a new business on the island. With additional support from The Coca-Cola Company, Prudential Financial, the Ford Foundation, and other donors, HF PopTiendas provided these micro-entrepreneurs with self-sufficient, custom-built “pop-up” stores made from locally sourced steel containers with the capacity to operate “off the grid” and equipped with solar panels, a generator, a rainwater catchment system, water storage tank, ventilation systems, and customized decoration.

Applicants selected for the project received additional business and entrepreneurial capacity building, technical assistance and support on permitting processes, siting, design, and operations of the PopTiendas systems. To date, this ongoing project has created over 65 jobs with more than $1 million in additional leveraged investments in the local economy through local distributors, vendors, materials, and labor for production. With businesses ranging from coffee shops to eateries to outdoor recreation, the PopTiendas are thriving businesses stretching across all four corners of the island.