They join forces for the revitalization of Roosevelt Roads

Press Release

The Resident Commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, together with the Mayor of Ceiba, Samuel "Sammy" Rivera Báez, the representative and spokesperson of the PNP in the House of Representatives, Carlos "Johnny" Méndez, and Senator Marissa "Marissita "Jiménez discussed revitalization plans for the old Roosevelt Roads base yesterday with the designated executive director of the Roosevelt Roads Redevelopment Authority, Nilda Marchan, and developers.

"Ceiba has an extraordinary potential for economic development and precisely because of communities like these, I currently have three legislative initiatives that would promote this development: that the entirety of Puerto Rico be considered an Opportunity Zone; for Puerto Rico to become an air cargo center; and attract manufacturing to American soil. This goes very hand in hand with the economic revitalization plan that Mayor Sammy Rivera has to establish infrastructure projects, rehabilitate, inhabit and repopulate Ceiba, "said the resident commissioner.

Opportunity zones are classifications that seek to attract investment to economically depressed areas by granting preferential contributory treatment that increases the longer the investment is maintained in that area; This encourages investment and job creation. To have more opportunities for economic injection, the commissioner seeks that Puerto Rico can be classified in its entirety as an opportunity zone. Currently, the area where the old Roosevelt Roads base is located does not fall within this classification because it is not included in the census statistics, the measure of the congresswoman would directly help investment in that base.

"The development of the land of the old Roosevelt Roads naval base is a priority, more at this time. The traffic generated by the new maritime transportation dock to Vieques and Culebra should be a central part of development, as is the airport. But it is necessary to work with the aspect of the electrical and water infrastructure, which in the vast majority of the base area does not exist. That must be the priority. With this, it is possible to attract investments that are necessary for the development of these lands, which, in turn, will result in a millionaire injection to the economy of the municipalities of the eastern region ", said the former president of the Chamber and representative of District 36, which includes the municipalities of Río Grande, Luquillo, Fajardo, Ceiba, Vieques and Culebra.

During the tour, they spoke with the developers of the LoopLand Hotel & Resort at Ceiba Bay project that proposes to rehabilitate 500 acres of land in the old base, with approximately 728 villas and an investment of $ 25 million.

They also visited two projects that are already being developed in the old base. One of them is LinkActiv, a call center located with capacity for 150 people on each of its 2 floors; 50% of the employees are from Ceiba and Naguabo and they plan to expand services.

The second is the Association Reservists, National Guards and Nautical Veterans (ARGNVN) where the veterans presented their proposal to expand their operations within the old base.

Mayor Samuel "Sammy" Rivera and municipal legislators presented to the commissioner the tourism development project near Los Machos beach as part of their economic development plans for the municipality that also include revitalizing the grounds of the Parcelas Aguas Claras Elementary School and the School of Bo. Down river.

The commissioner took advantage of her visit to "La Ciudad del Marlin" to dialogue with small businesses about how they have managed to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source