Jenniffer Gonzalez Announces $24.5 Million for Agricultural Education, School Cafeterias, Reconstruction, and Head Start Program

Press Release

Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón announced new federal funds totaling $24,559,933.92 to promote the development of agricultural education, finance school nutrition programs, Head Start and various items from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, in English) for municipalities and state agencies to advance the reconstruction of the island.

The Interamerican University in Barranquitas will receive $500,000 to increase the development of food science and agriculture education for teachers and professional educators.

This grant invests in K-12 teacher training while supporting student learning on food and agriculture topics. The funds were awarded after an application process by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

USDA also announced an estimated $4,060,000 in reimbursements available to Puerto Rico under school nutrition programs. The island could enhance these funds to cost additional costs for the current school year. This increase in the reimbursable amount per meal is one of USDA's easings to ensure that schools continue to meet the nutritional needs of children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FEMA, for its part, announced four new grants under its public assistance program for reconstruction projects for Hurricane Maria and the earthquakes; $1,971,634.31 for the municipality of Caguas, $1,330,351.27 for the Department of Transportation; $1,353,216.73 for the Icar Diocese of Fajardo/Humacao and $11,027,189.61 for the Department of Education of Puerto Rico.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for its part, announced new funding for the Carolina Township's Head Start and Early Head Start program: $4,317,542 was awarded to the Township under the Office of Children's Administration and Families under HHS.

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