Michelle Kantrow

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Articles

Puerto Rico’s new car sales reach 10,523 units in April

3 weeks ago | newsismybusiness.com | Maria R Miranda |María Miranda |Michelle Kantrow

The United Automobile Importers Group (GUIA, in Spanish) reported 10,523 new vehicles sold in Puerto Rico in April, a 2.77% increase compared with the 10,239 units sold in April 2024. Year-to-date growth in the local auto market now stands at 1.6%, according to the organization’s latest report. The uptick was driven mainly by compact SUVs, which grew 11.02%, and by midsize and full-size sedans, which saw a 44.44% increase.
8 Puerto Rico towns, dozens of businesses facing ADA violation lawsuits

2 months ago | newsismybusiness.com | Michelle Kantrow-Vázquez |Michelle Kantrow

At least eight towns in Puerto Rico and dozens of businesses are facing lawsuits in U.S. District Court for allegedly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A dozen lawsuits have been filed this year alone by a single law firm, Vélez Law Group LLC, which is known for litigating ADA-related cases, according to court records. The most recent case, filed this week, involves plaintiff Ramón Rivera against the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the town of Arecibo and 15 businesses.
Lawsuit accuses Cidra of ADA violations, businesses face scrutiny

2 months ago | newsismybusiness.com | Michelle Kantrow-Vázquez |Michelle Kantrow

The Puerto Rican municipality of Cidra and several town businesses are facing a lawsuit over alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The case was filed by Carlos Molina-Román, a wheelchair user with muscular dystrophy. The 140-page lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, highlights systemic accessibility barriers that have made it nearly impossible for Molina-Román to navigate the town safely.
Esencia developers pledge access to beaches, respond to opposition

Jan 10, 2025 | newsismybusiness.com | Michelle Kantrow

Esencia, a proposed $2 billion coastal community in Cabo Rojo, will provide multiple beach access points and implement a natural resource management plan, developers said. Roberto Ruiz, principal of Three Rules Capital in Puerto Rico, one of the developers alongside the Reuben Brothers, said the proposal submitted to the Puerto Rico Permits Management Office (OGPe, in Spanish) on May 23 includes plans for several vehicular entrances to the beach.
DTOP gets $2M allocation to develop transportation network in Hato Rey

Jan 8, 2025 | newsismybusiness.com | Michelle Kantrow

The Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP, in Spanish) will receive $2 million to plan and design an improved active transportation network in the Hato Rey neighborhood of San Juan. The project will focus on pedestrian and nonmotorized connections linking jobs, schools, services, and recreational facilities to the Tren Urbano rail system.
Marco’s Pizza opens 4 new locations in 2024 with $1.2M investment

Dec 24, 2024 | newsismybusiness.com | Michelle Kantrow

Restaurant chain Marco’s Pizza, operated by Fransglobal, opened four new restaurants in 2024 — in Naranjito, Villalba, San Sebastián and Juncos — involving a combined $1.2 million investment as part of its ongoing growth strategy in Puerto Rico, company officials confirmed. Each restaurant investment averaged $225,000 for construction and $75,000 for state-of-the-art equipment. This expansion marks what the chain called an “exciting chapter” in its history.
Uber Eats expands offering beyond food during holiday season

Dec 13, 2024 | newsismybusiness.com | Michelle Kantrow

The holiday season promises to be one of the busiest for mobility in Puerto Rico, and Uber is offering new features “to meet the season’s diverse needs,” the rideshare company announced. Uber Eats is redefining its role during the holiday season, “becoming a technological ally for securing all kinds of festive gifts.”In 2023, users relied on the app for items like chocolate-covered strawberries, roses and last-minute essentials such as beverages and ice for celebrations.
Villa Montaña Beach Resort makes Condé Nast Traveler’s top Puerto Rico hotels list

Dec 3, 2024 | newsismybusiness.com | Michelle Kantrow

Travel and tourism magazine Condé Nast Traveler recently published its list of the 20 best hotels in Puerto Rico, which includes Villa Montaña Beach Resort in Isabela. “We’re proud and satisfied to receive this recognition from the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler publication for the first time,” said Alain Tiphaine, owner of the beachfront property.
USACE, DTOP partner to start relocating 59 flood-prone properties

Nov 5, 2024 | newsismybusiness.com | Michelle Kantrow

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Puerto Rico’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) signed a project partnership agreement (PPA) to initiate the relocation assistance process for 59 properties located in a flood zone as part of the Río Grande de Manatí Flood Risk Management Project in Ciales, with an estimated cost of $29.8 million. This is the first PPA executed by USACE’s recently created Caribbean District and the DTOP.
Funding period opens for $40M in environmental justice project grants

Oct 25, 2024 | newsismybusiness.com | Michelle Kantrow

The application period for funding under Fordham University’s environmental justice program, “Flourishing in Community,” has opened to support communities affected by climate change, pollution and other environmental factors in Puerto Rico, New York, New Jersey, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally recognized Indigenous nations.