NRLR USDA B&I CARES Act Program Presentation

The National Rural Lenders’ Roundtable (NRLR), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) partnered for the 2019 Puerto Rico Rural Lending Investment Summit that was held March 7 and 8, 2019 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Condado Plaza Hilton Hotel. The summit marked the premier event joining lenders and stakeholders in the USDA and SBA guaranteed-lending community with local and federal officials in a concerted effort to provide Puerto Rico’s rural communities with access to capital and bolster Puerto Rico’s economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane María.

Invited guest speakers for the summit include the Hon. Ricardo Rosselló, Governor of Puerto Rico; the Hon. Jennifer González-Colón, Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico; Mrs. Bette Brand, USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator and Rural Utilities Service Acting Administrator; Mr. Joseph Ben Israel, USDA Rural Development Assistant Administrator for Community Facility Programs; Mrs. Edna Primrose, USDA Rural Development Assistant Administrator for Water and Environmental Programs; Mr. Steven Bulger, Small Business Administration Region II Administrator; the Hon. Manuel Laboy, Puerto Rico Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce; the Hon. Fernando Gil, Puerto Rico Secretary of Housing; Mr. Gerardo Portela, Chief Investment Officer of Puerto Rico; Mr. Omar Marrero, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority and the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resiliency; and Mr. Carlos Mercader, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, among others.

The summit was a great success as it provided valuable information covering essential community facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics and nursing homes, educational services, utility services, and local foods systems, among others.

The summit presented a great opportunity for lenders, investors and entrepreneurs to join forces and promote the launch of new businesses and the creation of new jobs that will drive economic development for Puerto Rico’s rural communities. It was a critical juncture to make history and advance Puerto Rico’s recovery and reconstruction efforts after the destruction caused by hurricanes Irma and María.

The National Rural Lenders’ Roundtable was proud to partner with stakeholders to share successes, goals and ideas for a common mission to increase the flow of capital to Puerto Rico. We look forward to the days ahead to provide Access to Capital for businesses and communities in Advancing Rural Prosperity.

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