Libni Sanjurjo / Oficial de Comunicaciones FCPR
In his 34 years of life, Luis Rivera Reyes had never won a prize. All his expenses have been paid for with the earnings from his work, mainly from tiling jobs. Por that is, the prize he received from the Community Fund WECO, established in the Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico (FCPR), he took it as a pleasant surprise.
Rivera Reyes, along with fellow tile contractors and installers Heriberto Ramírez Torres, Marta M. Arriaga La Torre, and Joey O. Rodríguez Robles—all tile contractors and installers—received cash prizes this week in the amounts of $2,000, $3,000, and $5,000 so that they could invest in the development of their microenterprises.
To participate, the quartet met several requirements, including the creation of a Business plan. They also participated in WECO initiatives including professional certification for tile installers and micro-enterprise workshops.
“I have never spent a cent that I haven't earned through hard work.”I've never been given an award. I truly feel very grateful for that and happy because it truly feels good," said Rivera Reyes, owner of Rivera Facilities, at Juncos, during the presentation of the four awards at the WECO facilities.
“I am passionate about the tableware industry.I'm going to use every cent for my small business., ”which is what I focus on day by day... I want to take my business up a notch from where it is," Rivera Reyes added.
This young entrepreneur's goal is to increase the number of jobs completed each month from two or three to five. Among the ways he plans to use the $5,000 he won for taking first place are setting up his own fund, printing business cards, and increasing the business's visibility.
Second place ($3,000) went to Ramírez Torres of Ramírez Tile Handyman in San Sebastián; and third place ($2,000) and fourth place ($2,000) went to Arriaga La Torre of Los Flakos Renovations in Caguas and Rodríguez Robles of JR Professional Services in Las Piedras.
“To see the satisfaction on customers” faces”
Similarly, Arriaga La Torre aspires to see the family business grow, which she started 13 years ago when both she and her husband lost their jobs. The businesswoman, 39 years old, has studies in electricity and worked for a time as a refrigeration technician's assistant, a trade she inherited from her father.
One of the first things he'll do with the prize money is buy new tools because the ones he has “are already old.” He also wants to promote the business more. “This year I hope to be able to hire more employees. We're working very hard. We would like a little more supervision.”Giving more jobs to people and being able to generate more jobs," he added. The company currently has three employees.
For his part, Rodríguez Robles, 38, also hopes to increase the number of employees—he currently has only one—and purchase tools. He also wants to compete for large projects. For him, the prize was “a blessing from God because he wasn’t expecting it.”.
Ramírez Torres could not attend, but sent a representative.
During the awards ceremony, the winners received many messages of encouragement from representatives of FCPR and WECO.
“It is very rewarding to see how A Puerto Rican company is willing to collaborate in the socioeconomic development of our Island, stimulating the emergence of small businesses. "We are honored to be able to collaborate with Weco on the design and implementation of its social responsibility plan and to serve as the administrators and custodians of this Community Fund. We will also be supporting these entrepreneurs and closely following their success story," said Mary Ann Gabino, senior vice president of FCPR.
For his part, WECO General Manager Jorge Muñoz emphasized that «WECO’s management has been a pioneer in establishing professional and business development programs for our Puerto Rican employees and in supporting the creation of microenterprises on the island.».
So, keep moving forward with your businesses!