PDF version of the press release
Eleven business owners and entrepreneurs from Loíza and nearby towns succeeded in creating or sustaining 30 jobs, exporting products, and collectively generating more than $1.41 million in economic impact through commercial and collaborative agreements, following their participation in the Loíza Glocal Bootcamp, which was organized by Vitrina Solidaria with philanthropic support from the Puerto Rico Community Foundation.
The executive director of Vitrina Solidaria, Raquel Skerrett Escalera, reported that the estimated economic contribution from the nine participating companies is preliminary and has greater growth potential in the coming months because several are in the pre-production phase and others are analyzing the impact of their projects.
In total, five new direct jobs were created, 14 indirect jobs were created, and another 11 were maintained.
“We feel deep joy because the business owners worked hard during the past months. They took on a great challenge, gained confidence, and were able to believe in their projects and business ideas. We feel deep admiration for what they have achieved and will continue to stand with them, providing them with advice and support,” expressed the executive director.
He mentioned, as an example, that Ciri Esco Nutritional Hydroponics He developed prototypes of hydroponic products and secured sales agreements worth over $183,000 with Supermercados Selectos and Mr. Special in Loíza, as well as FamCoop in Río Grande, where he now has a section to display his products. In addition, they began supplying seven Kairos food trucks. Entrepreneurs Sixdaira and Carlos Cirino doubled their plant production to 8,000 pounds per week and hired 15 people.
“Thanks to the confidence I gained at Loíza Glocal, I dared to present my company and products to potential buyers, and I had very positive results. It was an excellent experience,” Sixdaira Cirino.
Likewise, the company Fall in love with your hair The company created four new jobs after securing distribution agreements totaling $16,000 annually with three beauty salons in Loíza: Magda’s Canela Salon, One Off Beauty Salon, and Annie’s Braids & Beauty Style. In addition, the company’s owner, Deniece Martínez, is in the process of exporting the products to Arkansas, having secured a client in that state.
“I got the tools I needed. I didn't consider myself an entrepreneur, and now I have my own product line. The topics were straight to the point and very dynamic,” Martínez said about the experience.
Another example is the Taste Route which created two jobs. The owner, Ileana Calcaño, entered into a five-week agreement with the PathStone organization to provide meals to 19 people in Loíza, for a total of $1,428. This agreement was very important to the businesswoman because her original food truck business had been affected due to repairs.
Andreisha Márquez López, from AJ Blades and Hay, announced that they have already started selling their animal products in Canóvanas. They are in the economic impact analysis phase. However, they already have two new employees.
Deli's Bakes Always created two new jobs and the businesswoman Maridelis Romero anticipated that in the coming months she will leave her current job to dedicate herself full-time to her own business.
The entrepreneurs (mother and daughter) Leirys Quiñones and Wanda Rivera combined their knowledge as chefs to create their family business. The Sweetest. They started taking individual orders from customers through WhatsApp and Facebook.
Meanwhile, businesswoman Lorenis Cepeda, of Enchanted Girls Spa Party, he managed to reinvent her business. Now, she also offers wellness workshops for young women. She took workshops as a community health promoter, so she will receive financial incentives and will be a resource for the organization Taller Salud. She participated in the "Circle of Self-Love Women" activity where she presented samples of her products.
“Thanks to the bootcamp being virtual, I was able to attend because I'm a mother of three children. They helped me evaluate my business from a different perspective. I'm looking forward to the next bootcamp to recommend it to other entrepreneurs,” Cepeda expressed.
Farmer Carlos Colón Padilla, of Buy Fresh Mushroom, reported that they are already in the pre-production phase for mushroom cultivation.
Regarding Escalera Sport Fitness, businesswoman Ángela Escalera Carrasquillo has already begun offering individual training services as a prototype for her business, which will cater to seniors. “They helped us develop our ideas. They supported us and followed up,” she stated.
The Loíza Glocal Bootcamp was a seven-week, free virtual training program with over 40 hours of workshops, practical sessions, and mentorship on entrepreneurship, environment, and community. The businesses of the participating entrepreneurs are in the economic sectors of agriculture, food, artisanal products, and wellness.
The requirements for selecting entrepreneurs included being over 18 years of age, residing in Loíza during the program, and for a minimum of three months prior to the program's start. It expanded to include three entrepreneurs from Canóvanas and Río Grande. Eight businesses in more advanced stages were provided with a marketing kit containing professional photos and videos, with a combined value of $9,600.
“The Loíza Glocal Bootcamp joins the racial equity and community recovery initiatives that the Puerto Rico Community Foundation is developing in Loíza to contribute to the integral well-being of children, youth, and families. This program, in particular, boosted the local economy through the creation and sustainment of new businesses and jobs, which promotes equity, social justice, and community prosperity. It increased the community capital of the participants and the community. Furthermore, it introduced acceleration and marketing possibilities into their business landscape, as well as export opportunities, which we can see with the company Enamora tu cabello (Love Your Hair), which already has a client to export its product to the state of Arkansas. Their stories reveal the development potential within the Loíza economy,” said the president of the Puerto Rico Community Foundation, Dr. Nelson Colón Tarrats.
“Entrepreneurship is a key piece for community development; it must be an undertaking that addresses and respects all components of the community, the social, environmental, cultural, and of course, the economic aspects. An empowered community fosters job creation, creates wealth, and generates a multiplier effect that positively impacts its residents, and in turn, serves as a SHOWCASE for the community and other communities. The community economy is an important component in Puerto Rico's Economic Development agenda,” stated Manuel Cidre Miranda, Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC).
To learn more about programs for entrepreneurs, people can visit the website VitrinaSolidaria.org, write an email to info@vitrinasolidaria.org or text the number (787) 690-7272.
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Solidarity Showcase It is a social enterprise for sustainable development and solidarity economy that drives microenterprises and social ventures to achieve market success, thereby contributing to the prosperity of Puerto Rico. Vitrina showcases the best artisanal products and promotes equal opportunities for entrepreneurs through training and support activities, a virtual sales channel, and educational campaigns for responsible consumption.
Puerto Rico Community Foundation It is a philanthropic organization with a 35-year history of collaboration with donors and communities. It is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and Latin America and the only one of its kind in Puerto Rico. It is recognized as an organization under Section 1101.1 of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code and as a 501(c)(3) organization under the Federal Internal Revenue Code, so depending on your tax status, you may be able to claim a deduction on your contribution.