Schedule – AM

7:30am – 8:30am:
Registration

08:30am – 9:00am:
Opening Remarks and Official Welcome

• • Jenniffer González
    Congresswoman

• • Manuel J. Fernós, Esq.
    President Inter American University of PR

• • Ricardo Martínez, CPA
    Puerto Rico SBTDC Executive Director

• • Allen Gutiérrez
    SBA OED Associate Administrator 

• • Jovita Carranza
    Introduction
    SBA Administrator

09:00am – 9:30am:
The Small Business Administration and its role in economic development of the opportunity zones

Keynote Speaker:
Jovita Carranza
SBA Administrator

9:30am – 10:30am:
Qualified Opportunity Zone Business: A growth strategy for entrepreneurs

Panel to discuss:

• Steps small businesses need to take to be investor-ready
• How to evaluate if OZ investment work for their business goals
• Restrictions to become an OZ qualified business or activity
• What information will the investor require
• Address expectations versus reality

Moderator:

Joanellis Fernández
Director of Business Development at Kevane Grant Thornton

Panel:

• • José Torres
    Qualified Opportunity Fund Manager

• • María de los Angeles Rivera
    CPA-Partner/Tax Partner/IBC Director at Kevane Grant Thornton

Small Business Owners:

• • Carlos Domínguez
    MBQ Pharma

• • Ismael Negrón
    Zomio, Inc.

10:30am – 10:45am:
Break

10:45am – 11:30pm:
Puerto Rico Opportunity Zones and Tax Incentives Programs

Topics to discuss:

• Puerto Rico Act 60 Tax Incentives Code
• Priority Projects in Opportunity Zones
• Qualified Opportunity Fund vs. Exempt Business, what is the right pathway

Presentation by:
Mr. Manuel A. Laboy
Puerto Rico Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce

11:30pm – 12:30pm:
Lunch

Schedule – PM

12:30pm – 1:30pm:
Connecting Federal Agencies to the Small Business Community

Federal agencies panel to highlight their role and programs as they relate to support OZ investments.

• • Denise Cleveland-Leggett
    HUD Regional Administrator

   

  • Josué Rivera
    USDA State Director

   

  • Ismael F. Torres
    IRS

   

  Moderators:

  Scott Turner
  White House Counsel

   

   

  1:30pm – 2:30pm:
  Financing for your business.

  Panel of local on local lending programs to support small business goals.

   

  Moderator:
  Brenda Rodríguez, CPA
  Puerto Rico SBTDC

   

  • • Adrian Franco
      Federal Reserve of New York CoDeFi

   

  • • María de los A. De Jesús
      SBA District Office

   

  • • Oriental Bank

   

  • • Giovanna Piovanetti, Esq.
      COFECC CDC

   

  • • Jorge Salichs, Esq.
      Salichs Law Group

     

    2:30pm – 2:45pm:
    Break

     

    2:45pm – 3:15pm
    Closing Remarks and Next Steps

    Summary of next steps, resources and relationships to benefit small businesses.

     

    • • Ricardo Martínez, CPA
        Puerto Rico SBTDC Executive Director

     

    • • Yvette Collazo
        SBA District Director

     

    3:15pm – 5:00pm
    Networking and Matchmaking
    (Sponsored by the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce)

     

  • Meeting with DEDC officials, potential investors and opportunity zones state experts to set next steps.
  • Matchmaking for commercial properties between Business Owners, Investors or Fund Managers and DEDC officials.