AGP Executive Report

Veteran Digital Access: VA’s new identity-verification pilot includes San Juan, helping veterans set up VA.gov accounts in person. STEM Investment: Vimenti secured a $1.03 million federal grant to expand STEM education in Puerto Rico. The island also has $2 million in scholarships for students in high-demand fields, including science and biotech; applications close Oct. 26. Marine Research: Aquaculture scientist Megan Davis co-leads a queen conch hatchery in Puerto Rico, supporting efforts to develop sustainable seafood and fisheries. Disaster Readiness: Puerto Rico created an earthquake preparedness committee to coordinate scientific monitoring, emergency communications and planning for critical infrastructure. Energy Resilience: Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y can provide home backup power in Puerto Rico, but the feature requires a Powerwall 3 and compatible vehicle hardware. Emergency Alerts: Broadcasters are preparing for a FEMA alert-system test scheduled for Puerto Rico on Oct. 15.

STEM Funding: Puerto Rico is offering $2 million in 2026–27 scholarships for residents pursuing high-demand fields, with added emphasis on research doctorates in science and technology. Applications close Oct. 26. School Labs: Vimenti won a $1.031 million federal grant to expand STEM learning spaces at four Puerto Rico schools, with resources for robotics, astronomy, AI and data analysis. Resilient Energy: Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y can now power homes in Puerto Rico during outages, but the feature requires a Powerwall 3 and compatible vehicle equipment. Digital Access: San Juan is one of six VA sites piloting staff-assisted CLEAR enrollment for veterans setting up VA.gov accounts. Solar Quality: A review of nearly 8 GW of solar projects in the U.S. and Puerto Rico found major issues at 87% of inspected sites and critical issues at 8%, underscoring the need for stronger quality checks.

Grid Resilience: Tesla has enabled Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in Puerto Rico and the U.S. to power homes during outages, but the feature requires a Powerwall 3 and compatible charging equipment. STEM Education: Vimenti won $1.03 million in federal funding to build STEM learning spaces at four Puerto Rico schools, supporting hands-on work in robotics, astronomy, AI and data analysis. Digital Access: The VA’s new CLEAR identity-verification pilot includes its San Juan medical center, where veterans can get help setting up VA.gov accounts in person. Solar Quality: A report covering nearly 8 gigawatts of solar projects in the U.S. and Puerto Rico found major issues in 87% of inspected sites, underscoring the need for stronger quality checks and ongoing maintenance.

STEM Education: Vimenti won $1.03 million in federal funding to build STEM learning spaces at four Puerto Rico schools, giving students access to robotics, astronomy, AI and data analysis. Digital Access: San Juan’s VA medical center is part of a six-site pilot using CLEAR kiosks to help veterans set up VA.gov accounts in minutes. Solar Reliability: A report based on inspections of nearly 8 GW of solar assets in Puerto Rico and the U.S. found major issues at 87% of projects and critical issues at 8%, underscoring the need for ongoing quality checks. Medical Manufacturing: Becton Dickinson pledged $19 billion for U.S. investment; its manufacturing network includes Añasco, though the company has not specified how much will go to Puerto Rico. Student Innovation: Peñuelas seventh-grader Wileidy Feliciano-Rivera’s plantain-peel mulch reduced weeds by up to 53% in a four-week test and earned her a place among 30 national student innovators.

Puerto Rico Energy & Industry: Flotek Industries is facing fresh investor scrutiny tied to its Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) deal, with multiple investor-alert notices pointing to claims about a projected $400M backlog and alleged contract issues. Healthcare Policy: A FactCheck.org review says the White House’s $64B Medicaid drug-savings claim leans on a 10-year projection with key assumptions not fully public, and that states’ early savings may be under 2% of spending. Medical Manufacturing: Becton Dickinson announced a $19B U.S. investment plan, including manufacturing expansion that spans its Puerto Rico site, in exchange for relief from future Section 232 tariffs if milestones are met. STEM in Puerto Rico: A Puerto Rican seventh-grader turned plantain peels into biodegradable mulch, cutting weed growth by up to 53% in a four-week test—earning finalist status in a major junior innovators challenge. AI & Media: The Caribbean Journalism Seminar 2026 trained journalists on using AI responsibly, stressing human judgment and source protection. Genomics Research: Oregon is starting enrollment for a study testing whether genome sequencing can be added to routine newborn screening.

Biotech & Agriculture: Puerto Rico student Wileidy Feliciano-Rivera turned plantain peels into biodegradable mulch, cutting weed growth by up to 53% in a four-week EcoMusa test and earning finalist status for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. Public Health Preparedness: The Puerto Rico Public Health Institute won an Excel Award for its “Neighbor, Are You Ready? Plan Today, Act Tomorrow” emergency campaign, built with CDC-funded research to help communities prepare for extreme heat. Infrastructure & Safety: Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón announced $114.4M for road resurfacing across 42 municipalities via DTOP agreements, targeting safer travel on major routes including the Panoramic Route. AI for Tourism: Discover Puerto Rico is rolling out new AI agents with Satisfi Labs to match traveler and meeting-planner needs to vetted local hotels, attractions, and meeting spaces using the island’s own verified data. Healthcare Policy: A multisectoral Medicaid final report urges Puerto Rico to secure Medicaid funding and improvements before FY2028 to stabilize access for about 40% of the population.

Puerto Rico Tourism Tech: Discover Puerto Rico is rolling out new AI agents for DiscoverPuertoRico.com, using the island’s verified “sources of truth” to match travelers and meeting planners with vetted hotels, meeting spaces, attractions, and destination partners. Public Health Preparedness: The Puerto Rico Public Health Institute (PRPHI) won an Excel Award for its “Neighbor, Are You Ready? Plan Today, Act Tomorrow” campaign, built with CDC-funded research to help communities prepare for emergencies, especially extreme heat. Infrastructure Funding: Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón announced $114.4 million for road resurfacing and safety projects across 42 municipalities via DTOP agreements. Healthcare Policy: The governor presented Puerto Rico’s final multisectoral Medicaid report, urging federal funding stability and improvements ahead of FY2028. Local Tech & Research: Puerto Rico hospitals are facing financing and workforce pressures as care models and technology evolve, according to industry coverage from the Puerto Rico Hospital Association convention. STEM & Innovation (US-wide, with PR links): A national newborn genome sequencing study is expanding enrollment in participating states, aiming to responsibly add sequencing to routine screening.

Tourism Tech: Discover Puerto Rico is rolling out new AI agents via Satisfi Labs, using the island’s verified sources to match travelers and meeting planners with vetted hotels, meeting spaces, attractions, and destination partners. Healthcare & Workforce: The Puerto Rico Hospital Association convened for 2026 talks on hospital financing, staffing shortages, shifting demographics, and how Medicare/Medicaid decisions could reshape care delivery. Local Innovation: A Peñuelas student turned plantain peels into a bioplastic mulch that cut weed growth by up to 53% in a school experiment, advancing to the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge. Cyber & Elections: A Reuters report details how U.S. computer experts analyzed a Puerto Rico voting machine as part of a broader push to challenge the 2020 election. Climate & Resilience: El Niño conditions are intensifying, with record-warm ocean temperatures near Puerto Rico raising concerns for marine life and coastal livelihoods.

Cancer Research: A new study links diet and the gut microbiome to how well immune checkpoint therapy works, offering a fresh angle on the “obesity paradox” seen in cancer patients. Puerto Rico Health & Tech: The Puerto Rico Hospital Association says hospitals face financing, workforce, and demographic pressures, while new care models and technology could reshape delivery across the island. Local Innovation: A Peñuelas student turned plantain peels into bioplastic mulch, cutting weed growth by up to 53% in a four-week test—now a finalist in a major junior science challenge. Agriculture & Land Use: A UPR-led project received $99,999 to strengthen farmland protection tools, training educators and extension agents to help enforce protections on the ground. Disaster Readiness: Puerto Rico’s broader disaster-prep conversation is echoed by research highlighting how complex emergencies hit older adults hardest, especially when health and support systems are already strained. Healthcare Access: Aetna announced 2027 Medicare plans focused on affordability and care navigation, including chronic-condition support and $0 copays for key services. Climate Watch: El Niño conditions are intensifying, with record-warm Pacific waters raising concerns for marine life and coastal livelihoods.

Healthcare & Tech in Puerto Rico: The Puerto Rico Hospital Association says island hospitals are juggling financing pressure, workforce shortages, demographic shifts, and the need to adapt to new care models as Medicare/Medicaid decisions loom. Disaster Resilience: A new solar microgrid in North Carolina is keeping a food bank running during grid outages, a reminder that backup power matters for community health and services. Election Tech & Trust: A Reuters report details how U.S. officials examined a Puerto Rico voting machine as part of an effort to prove 2020 election rigging—then found no vote manipulation, while a separate push to seize more machines was reported as well. Agriculture Innovation: A Puerto Rico student turned plantain peels into bioplastic mulch that cut weed growth by up to 53%, advancing land-friendly materials research. Public Health Watch: Florida’s dengue outbreak is surging in the continental U.S., with Puerto Rico consistently hit hard—highlighting shared mosquito-borne risk across the region.

Puerto Rico STEM Spotlight: A Peñuelas middle-schooler turned plantain peels into EcoMusa bioplastic mulch, cutting weed growth by up to 53% in a four-week test—now a finalist in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. Public Health & Tech: Florida’s dengue outbreak is the largest in decades in the continental U.S., with Puerto Rico consistently hit harder—highlighting how mosquito control and surveillance tech matter for island and mainland communities. Local Land Protection: A University of Puerto Rico project received $99,999 to strengthen farmland protection tools, training educators and extension agents so policies can actually be enforced on the ground. Travel & Hospitality Tech: Nobu Hospitality is expanding to Puerto Rico with a planned San Juan hotel and restaurant opening in 2028, signaling continued investment in the island’s tourism infrastructure. Cybersecurity: Europol reports arrests tied to the KillSec ransomware group, including a suspect linked to a Puerto Rico breach—another reminder that local incidents can connect to global operations.

Puerto Rico STEM Spotlight: Peñuelas student Wileidy Feliciano-Rivera turned plantain peels into EcoMusa bioplastic mulch, cutting weed growth by up to 53% in a four-week school experiment. Tourism Tech: Discover Puerto Rico is rolling out AI agents and an intent-matching platform for DiscoverPuertoRico.com, using island-verified data to connect travelers and meeting planners with vetted local businesses. Cybersecurity & Law Enforcement: A Reuters report says U.S. officials inspected voting machines in Puerto Rico as part of a broader push to find proof of 2020 election rigging—despite earlier findings showing no vote manipulation. Agriculture & Land Protection: A UPR-led project received $99,999 to strengthen farmland protection tools and train educators and extension agents to help preserve productive land. Climate Watch: NOAA reports record-warm Niño 3.4 sea surface temperatures, raising concerns for marine life and Puerto Rico’s coastal conditions. Public Health: Florida’s dengue outbreak is the largest in decades in the continental U.S., with Puerto Rico consistently hit harder. EV Infrastructure: OpConnect says it’s already operating EV charging solutions in Puerto Rico as it expands its smart-charging platform.

EV & Mobility in Puerto Rico: Discover Puerto Rico is rolling out AI agents via Satisfi Labs to match travelers and meeting planners with vetted island businesses, using verified local sources instead of the open web. Tourism Tech: Nobu Hospitality announced its first Puerto Rico venture—an upcoming San Juan Nobu Hotel and Restaurant slated for 2028. Public Health & Climate Risk: Florida’s dengue outbreak is now the largest in decades in the continental U.S., with Puerto Rico consistently hit harder; Tampa-area mosquito control is ramping up. Cybersecurity: Europol reports arrests tied to the KillSec ransomware group, including a Puerto Rico-linked case involving alleged extortion and computer intrusion. Local Tech/Workforce: Puerto Rico’s DDEC is investing nearly $1M in youth education and workforce training. Agriculture & Land Protection: A UPR-led project received $99,999 to strengthen farmland protection tools and training for extension agents.

Agricultural Resilience: A University of Puerto Rico project received $99,999 from Southern SARE to strengthen farmland protection tools and train educators and extension agents over the next two years, aiming to keep productive land from being lost in practice, not just on paper. Tourism AI: Discover Puerto Rico is rolling out AI agents via Satisfi Labs to turn natural-language chats into personalized recommendations and vetted referrals for hotels, meeting spaces, and attractions using the island’s own verified data. Workforce Training: Puerto Rico’s DDEC awarded $999,975 in WIOA funds to Nuestra Escuela Inc. for “Construyendo Nuestro Futuro,” helping 75 young people finish high school and build job skills through an integrated education-to-employment pathway. Cybersecurity: A KillSec ransomware takedown linked to Puerto Rico surfaced again as U.S. prosecutors tied a Puerto Rico breach to the group and reported indictments tied to unauthorized computer access and extortion threats. EV Tech in PR: OpConnect says it’s already operating in Puerto Rico as it expands EV charging solutions for fleets, with software that provides real-time visibility and control. Local Tech & Safety: Puerto Rico’s STEM ecosystem also gets a boost from research and training efforts, including lab-style engineering work focused on safer mobility for vulnerable road users.

Puerto Rico Tech & Mobility: Autocare opened a $6M automated car wash center in Santurce, with a 120-foot wash tunnel handling up to 1,000 vehicles daily, plus quick-lube and self-service detailing; the company says it’s investing to add another site in Bayamón before year-end. Local Government Tech Funding: Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced $26.5M approved for Special Education school transportation and to renew centralized Microsoft 365 and Azure services for Puerto Rico government agencies via PRITS. STEM & Workforce: DDEC awarded $999,975 in WIOA funds to Nuestra Escuela Inc. for “Construyendo Nuestro Futuro,” a pilot to help 75 youth finish high school and gain job skills in Caguas and Loíza. Cybersecurity & AI Oversight: “On The Record with Christian Briggs” tackled reported AI-agent security incidents, calling for independent investigation and clearer incident-disclosure rules. Consumer Tech/Health Finance: Treasury approved nearly $9.8M for Puerto Rico credit unions through the CDFI Fund, including technical assistance and small-dollar loan support. Global Tech Signal: Tesla says every US Model 3 sold in Puerto Rico and Mexico now gets a larger 16-inch center touchscreen, alongside performance/range updates for dual-motor trims.

Puerto Rico Workforce & Skills: DDEC approved $999,975 in WIOA funds for Nuestra Escuela Inc.’s “Construyendo Nuestro Futuro,” aiming to help 75 young people finish high school and build job skills in Caguas, Loíza and nearby areas. Federal Credit Union Boost: Treasury cleared about $9.8M for 17 Puerto Rico credit unions via the CDFI Fund, including $8.8M for technical assistance and $698,954 for small-dollar loans. Gov’t Tech + Special Ed Logistics: After the fiscal board’s OK, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced $26.5M for Special Education transportation and renewal of centralized Microsoft 365 and Azure services for government agencies. Automated Mobility Services: Autocare opened a $6M automated car wash center in Santurce with a 120-foot tunnel handling up to 1,000 vehicles daily, plus quick-lube and self-service cleaning. AI Security Watch: “On The Record with Christian Briggs” covered reported cybersecurity incidents involving autonomous AI agents, calling for independent review and clearer incident disclosure. School Phone Policy Push (US): A bipartisan bill from Sens. Mark Kelly and Tom Cotton would reward states that ban student cellphone use during school hours. Local Tech Governance Recognition: NASCIO named 11 state IT projects for innovation, including AI and cybersecurity efforts aimed at improving government services. Puerto Rico in Culture: The film “Esta Isla” was selected as Puerto Rico’s official candidate for Spain’s Goya Awards.