Entrepreneurship is an integral part of the economic resilience of communities, regions and local economies. However, Puerto Rico’s long recession compounded with the calamities of the hurricanes, earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic has forced entrepreneurs on the Island into an endless cycle of disaster recovery. To support existing entrepreneurs and encourage new ones, Puerto Rico needs a cohesive approach to facilitate the creation of hopeful ventures that can endure disasters and prosper.

To this end, this case study provides entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs) an overview of Puerto Rico’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the importance of well-connected networks to aid in the development of new ventures. Furthermore, we’ve developed a toolkit for ESOs to better serve entrepreneurs in the wake of a disaster and beyond. Through actionable, coordinated strategies, we provide concrete guidance on how to best leverage organizational resources and deploy effective programs amid the recovery process that can spur equitable access opportunities.