Not even a year after its launch, Colmena66 in Puerto Rico is rethinking and recalibrating what entrepreneurship means to a community.
Devastated by Hurricane María, Puerto Rico is eager for solutions to help the country rebuild its infrastructure and its economy—and Colmena66 is at the center, doing what they do best: connecting resource and entrepreneurs to empower a community.
At the heart of Puerto Rico’s entrepreneurial infrastructure and ecosystem, Colmena66 connects entrepreneurs and small businesses to the resources they need to scale and grow their business—and there’s no time where that has been more important than now, in the wake of and recovery of Hurricane María.
Yes, Puerto Rico is in a time of change amid chaos—and as economic developers know full well, entrepreneurs, those natural problem solvers and risk takers, will be critical and vital to helping the rebuild of Puerto Rico’s businesses, economy and even the island itself.
One of the ways Colmena66 is leading that charge is by hosting the Shop+HirePR campaign. Inspired by KCSourceLink's Shop Local program, this collaborative effort is between Brands of Puerto Rico, San Juan Freelance, Clickup, Clinc, Flimper, Bien Cool, PRCEI, Compañía de Comercio y Exportación and led by Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust, Parallel18 and SourceLink.
Through the campaign, these organizations are encouraging everyone to shop and hire Puerto Rico and to help local entrepreneurs get back on their feet.
Why shop and hire Puerto Rico?
According to FEMA, almost 40 percent of small businesses never reopen their doors following a disaster. That’s not acceptable.
By using Shop and Hire Puerto Rico donors’ money will:
- Help local businesses recover from the aftermath of Hurricane María.
- Boost economic development in Puerto Rico.
- Contribute to the reconstruction of Puerto Rico.
- Shop - Purchase apparel, beauty products, music, books, home decor and gourmet foods from Puerto Rico shops
- Hire - Contract online with professional service providers in Puerto Rico for developer services, sales, marketing, design creative services and more.
We encourage you to share the Shop + Hire Puerto Rico local campaign and contribute to the reconstruction, boost economic development and help businesses recover from the aftermath of Hurricane María.
Entrepreneurs can do amazing things, transforming communities and economies, but they can only do it with the help of customers like you. #ShopandHirePuertoRico
