Destination Plan Cabo Rojo & San GermánPrepared by Streetsense Prepared by : Powered by : Destination Plan / Cabo Rojo + San Germán 1 This program is funded by the Economic Development Administration of the United States of America (EDA). Foundation for Puerto Rico is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that seeks to unleash Puerto Rico’s potential in the global economy, so more people can live, visit, work, and invest in our beautiful island. Our targeted economic development and resilience programs work hand in hand with our community partners, providing resources, training, funding, and networks that improve the local economy from within. We 1500 Calle Antonsanti go from knowledge to action, combining innovative, data-driven thinking with Suite K-Colaboratorio strong field-based work across more than 32 communities. We’ve supported over San Juan, PR 00912-3150 600 small businesses and collaborated with over 100 local and national NGOs. (787) 773-1100 Our Mission: Transform Puerto Rico into a thriving destination for the world. www.foundationpr.org Our Vision: A prosperous Puerto Rico that unleashes the talent, creativity and passion of [email protected] its people. Destination Plan / Cabo Rojo + San Germán 2 Ackwnoledgements Executive Team Program Manager – Destination Partners Cafi Cultura Puertorriqueña Inc. Planning (Cafiesencia) Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Michelle Ornéliz Torres INprende Centro Cultural Sangermeño Francisco Jon Borschow Inversión Cultural Program Managers – Field Teams Mariano Quiñones Streetsense President & Chief Operating Officer Christian López Centro de Desarrollo de Pequeñas Annie Mayol Carlos Ayala Empresas y Tecnología de Puerto Rico Chief Financial Officer Area Coordinators Centro para Emprendedores Damaris Ocasio Anna Karina Lawson Collaborators Anneliz Oliver Círculo de Recreo de San Germán, Inc. Vice-President of Development & Entities Anthony Pabón Communications Club de Leones de Cabo Rojo Bryant Guardado A2Tiempos Ana López Francisco Amundaray Club de Leones AVA San Germán Acción Social PR Director of Economic Development Gabriella Perales Combate Beach Hotel Programs Gloria Sarai Domínguez Agricultura Con Conciencia Rural Alma Frontera Leandro Díaz Ecológica y Sustentable Comité Caborrojeño Pro Salud y Leishla Agosto Ambiente, Inc. Alianza Sangermeña Senior Program Officer (WCRP) Lucciano Díaz Félix Aponte Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico María Gabriela Méndez Altrusas Internacional - Cabo Rojo Human Resources Director María del Mar Rivera Compañia de Turismo de Puerto Rico - Altrusas Internacional - San Germán Niulka Quiñones Melanie Sánchez Oficina de Porta del Sol Natalia Pagán Asociación Comunitaria Llanos Tuna Director of Development René Cotto Discover Puerto Rico Brian English Shalomir Gierbolini Asociación Duey Pico ENDEAVOR Sebastián Castro ASPIRA Inc. Valerie Mercado Escuela de Montañismo y Escalada Autoridad de Puertos de Puerto Rico Operational Team Facilitators Flamingo’s / Pelicans Alexis Santiago Banda Cultural Grupo Guayacán Research and Analysis Managers Bernice Baker Boys & Girls Club of Puerto Rico Francis Pérez Héctor Varela Hacienda Sin Edad Jaime Rodríguez María Fernández BS Legal, L3C. Patricia Rodríguez HR&A Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge Destination Plan / Cabo Rojo + San Germán 3 Ackwnoledgements Collaborators Nostra Raza Individuals This program is funded by (cont.) Oficina de Turismo de Cabo Rojo the Economic Development Alice Augusto Administration of the United Oficina de Turismo de San Germán Alfred Arzuaga Entities States of America (EDA). Andrés Maldonado Instituto Bienestar Orobela Café Boutique Carlos Segarra Parador Boquemar Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña Christian Cortés Instituto IAWE Inc. Pitahaya Glamping Edwin Matos Hon. Bobby Kurtz Instituto Universitario para el Pro Empresas Familiares Hon. Isidro Negrón Desarrollo de las Comunidades PRTours.net Hon. Jorge Morales Isla Sol Eco Tours Redsun Surf Shop Hon. Virgilio Olivera Janira Vega Invest PR Rock n’ Go Julia Rodríguez Kiva Sororidad Juvenil Delta Mu Gamma, Lola Atiles Inc. La Calaca Mex Marisol Acosta La Casita de Elly Special Challenges Ahead Milimar Hernández Ramón Vázquez SVAHN FARMS Legión Americana en PR #154, Wilfredo Vázquez Boquerón Tapas Café Lupitos Restaurant Tierra Viva Restaurante Marina Pescadería Universidad Ana G. Méndez MC Lared Universidad de Puerto Rico - Recinto Morgan Reed Mayagüez MOSS Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico - San Germán Municipio de Cabo Rojo Wally Tutor Me Municipio de San Germán ZS-Wellness Museo de la Historia de San Germán Destination Plan / Cabo Rojo + San Germán 4 Foundation for Puerto Rico (FPR) was community and stakeholders of the region, established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and working closely with them in order to Message from organization in 2011 with the aim to create foster economic resiliency and development. opportunities that drive social and economic During the second phase of the program, the Chairman development in the island, with a focus on the the Destination Planning Team co-designed visitor economy. a Destination Plan that includes the latest tourism data, a list of the main assets and Our mission of transforming Puerto Rico into of the Board other achievements that draw visitors to a destination for the world has been clear the destination, and a list of recommended since the beginning and became even more community-led projects that will further imperative following the devasting hurricanes enhance the inherent strengths of the region Irma and Maria in 2017. From there, the making them more attractive, resilient, and Bottom Up Destination Recovery Initiative was hospitable for visitors and residents alike. born in early 2018 to help create a sustainable Today, this Destination Plan is a reality. economic recovery model that would help communities become more resilient and What we present to you in the following pages involved in the creation of new businesses is the result of a joint effort between local and services around the tourism industry. For businesses, community members, nonprofits, our local economy to grow, we cannot rely municipal governments, and global partners, on traditional forms of revenues, but rather like Streetsense. Since the beginning of our look to generate new and incremental sources work in Cabo Rojo and San Germán, Puerto of funding. The visitor economy represents Rico has faced new and ongoing challenges for Puerto Rico the greatest opportunity for brought by earthquakes, political disturbance, economic growth in the short to medium climate change, and now, a global pandemic. term, given that it currently represents only 7% There is no simple way to prepare for this “new of our GDP, meaning it’s got ample room to normal,” and our current reality reinforces the grow. importance of making community resilience our top priority. After two successful pilots of the program in Orocovis and Punta Santiago (Humacao), The Destination Plan is a blueprint for action. the Bottom Up received a grant from the While the physical distancing measures Economic Development Administration of and restrictions in place may affect the Jon Borshow, Founder, Chairmen of the Board & the United States (EDA) that allowed FPR implementation of some projects today, CEO of Foundation for Puerto Rico. to scale the program across 12 additional the plan is a living document, one to be municipalities. Our first stop was on the modified, reprioritized, and adapted in real western part of the island. Our Field Team time, responding to the challenges and moved to Cabo Rojo and San Germán and opportunities of the moment. lived there for 6 months, getting to know the Destination Plan / Cabo Rojo + San Germán 5 Now, more than ever, it is time to re-imagine our future and develop high impact economic development strategies to take Puerto Rico out of the downward economic spiral of the last decade. This will only be achievable if we become far more open to deep and broad collaborations between the government and the private sector, businesses and communities, and international and relief organizations. Our local communities must have a clear long-term strategy that considers their common assets and determines how they can best leverage them to bring renewed economic activity and create new opportunities for their regions. Foundation for Puerto Rico is working to help communities achieve this with thoughtful strategies, so that they can design, develop, and scale models that, either independently or collectively, have a positive impact on the whole island. We can’t wait to see how these plans will develop into an exciting reality in the near future. Sincerely, Jon Borshow Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Foundation for Puerto Rico Destination Plan / Cabo Rojo + San Germán 6 The aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria By sharing with local stakeholders the marked Puerto Rico’s most critical moment Destination Plan, we hope to shed light on of the last century. During that emergency, the importance of scaling the “Asset-Based Message from Foundation for Puerto Rico (FPR) redirected all Community Development strategy” to achieve its resources to facilitate immediate response an efficient long-term recovery for Puerto the President and coordinate initiatives to aid communities Rico. island-wide. The situation underscored the As we continue to move forward with need for a strong plan, resilient infrastructure, sustainable programs aimed at Puerto Rico’s and cohesive collaboration that would speed long-term social and economic growth, we