April 24, 2026 — La Fortaleza, Puerto Rico — The Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González-Colón, announced the award of $3,164,487.90 in federal funding to Hospital General Castañer, Inc., as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure across the Island.
“The commitment of President Donald Trump and the support of Secretary Markwayne Mullin are enabling critical projects like this one to move forward without delay. This investment strengthens our emergency response capacity and ensures continued access to healthcare services in vulnerable communities,” stated Governor González-Colón.
The grant will fund Phase 2 of the project, which includes the construction of an elevated concrete structure for a helipad adjacent to the facilities of Hospital General Castañer, located in the municipality of Lares. This hospital serves a remote rural area where access can be severely limited by landslides and road closures following heavy rainfall events.
The helipad is essential for receiving medical supplies and transporting critically ill patients to other hospitals for specialized care. The current facility is located in a flood-prone area, preventing its use during severe weather events.
The new helipad will be built above the 500-year flood level, significantly reducing the risk of loss of functionality and damage during emergencies. This improvement will ensure the continuity of medical air transport operations and the delivery of critical supplies, even when roads are impassable.
The allocation of these funds is the result of coordination among the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration in Washington (PRFAA), the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3), and the relevant federal agencies, as part of a strategy focused on expediting processes and maximizing access to federal resources.
The funds are awarded under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), corresponding to disaster FEMA-4339-DR (Hurricane Maria), with a 75% federal cost share. The Government of Puerto Rico will utilize the global match mechanism to cover the required non-federal contribution.
###
