Montly Business Insights – March

Incentives, Grants & Opportunities

Amber Grant for Women

MARCH: Food & Beverage CategoryThe Amber Grant supports women-owned, for-profit businesses across the U.S. and its territories, including Puerto Rico. WomensNet awards three $10,000 grants each month: the core Amber Grant, a Startup Grant (for businesses with under $10,000 in sales), and a Business Category Grant. In March, the category focus is Food & Beverage. A single application automatically enters your business for all three monthly grants, as well as the $50,000 year-end award. Applications are reviewed on a rolling monthly basis.
Deadline: Rolling monthly — apply by March 31 for March cycle
Amount: $10,000/month per grant type; $50,000 year-end award
PR Eligibility: Open to businesses in the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico

APRIL: Sustainability CategoryIn April, the Amber Grant Business Category focuses on Sustainability businesses. If your company operates in environmental services, green manufacturing, clean energy, sustainable supply chain, eco-friendly products, or related sectors, your single Amber Grant application will automatically be considered for the April Sustainability Category Grant in addition to the core monthly Amber Grant and Startup Grant. No separate application is needed. A strong fit for Puerto Rico’s growing sustainability and clean energy sector.
Deadline: Rolling monthly — apply by April 30 for April cycle
Amount: $10,000/month per grant type; $50,000 year-end award
PR Eligibility: Open to businesses in the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico
Learn More: Amber Grant — WomensNetLearn more →

Breva Thrive Grant(Q2 Cycle opens April 1) APRIL-MAY

The Breva Thrive Grant awards $5,000 in unrestricted quarterly funding to one small business demonstrating measurable positive impact in underrepresented communities. Sponsored by Breva (Cadence Financial Group), this grant is designed for for-profit businesses creating jobs and economic opportunities in underserved areas. Q2 applications open April 1, 2026. Breva explicitly lists Puerto Rico and U.S. territories as eligible regions, making this one of the most PR-accessible grant programs available.

Deadline: Q2 opens April 1, 2026 — apply before Q2 close
Amount: $5,000 unrestricted grant (awarded quarterly)
PR Eligibility: Region listed as United States, D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories

Learn more → 

Upcoming Business Events 

Defense Manufacturing Conference
March 30 – April 2, 2026
Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando, FL

Annual conference bringing together defense industry leaders, government officials, and manufacturers to discuss manufacturing innovation, supply chain resilience, and national security priorities.
More Information →

RAPID + TCT 2026
April 13–16, 2026
Boston, MA

The premier North American event for additive manufacturing and 3D printing. Features hands-on exhibits, product launches, and expert-led education for manufacturers looking to stay ahead in advanced production technologies.
🎥 🔥Watch videoRegister Today →

American Biomanufacturing Summit
April 14-15 2026
San Francisco, CA

Exclusive platform for biopharma and biotech executives focused on biomanufacturing, supply chain, cell and gene therapy, quality and compliance. Includes 350+ senior leaders and 50+ expert speakers.
Register NOW →

American Biomanufacturing Summit
April 14-15 2026
San Francisco, CA

Exclusive platform for biopharma and biotech executives focused on biomanufacturing, supply chain, cell and gene therapy, quality and compliance. Includes 350+ senior leaders and 50+ expert speakers.
Register NOW →

SME FUSION 2026
May 5–6, 2026
Nashville, TN

The leading workforce-focused manufacturing event, delivering practical strategies for building talent pipelines, onboarding efficiently, upskilling employees, and preserving institutional knowledge.
🎥 🔥Watch video
Learn More →

Fortune Workplace Innovation Summit
May 19–20, 2026
Atlanta, GA

Brings together business and HR leaders to explore the future of work, AI in the enterprise, workforce strategy, and building resilient organizations for an era of rapid technological change.
Personal Information – Fortune Workplace Innovation Summit 2026
Learn More → 

What may benefit your company

Puerto Rico OSHA Updates Penalty Structure
Puerto Rico (PR) OSHA has revised fines and penalties for employer noncompliance with adopted OSHA standards. Under the current framework, willful or repeated violations carry a minimum fine of $11,823 and a maximum of $165,514 per violation. Serious violations carry penalties from $1,221 to $16,550, while failure to correct cited violations may result in fines of up to $16,550 per day. These revisions are designed to align PR OSHA enforcement with federal standards and strengthen workplace safety deterrence.Review and strengthen workplace safety and health programs to avoid significant financial exposure.Employers with questions about compliance are encouraged to consult with employment counsel for an audit and tailored recommendations.
trabajo.pr.gov/prosha/normas_reglamentosLearn More: Puerto Rico OSHA Penalty Update (Littler)

Volume of Business Declaration: New Forms, Deadlines, and Extensions Announced
Puerto Rico’s Office of Management and Budget (OGP) issued Circular Letter 001-2025 on February 27, 2025, establishing deadlines and filing requirements for the Volume of Business (VOB) Declaration for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, along with guidance on a gradual transition to newly redesigned municipal tax forms. The 2025–2026 VOB Declaration must be filed on or before April 23, 2025 — five business days after the April 15 Puerto Rico income tax return deadline. Taxpayers may obtain an automatic six-month extension, with the extended period lapsing on December 23, 2025 for holders of tax incentive grants issued under the Puerto Rico Incentives Code or similar laws; taxpayers located outside of Puerto Rico may be eligible for an additional extension of up to three months. On the forms side, OGP introduced three new forms — OGP PA01, and replacements for prior forms OCAM 102 and OCAM PA03 — eliminating the previous requirement for notarized signatures, a notable administrative simplification for businesses. The prior OCAM forms remain acceptable for the 2025–2026 tax period provided all current legal requirements are met, but use of the new OGP forms will be mandatory beginning with fiscal year 2026–2027. Businesses should review the updated forms and accompanying instructions now, as they are currently available in Spanish only, and consult with tax counsel to confirm compliance with the new filing framework before applicable deadlines.Volume of Business Declaration: New Forms, Deadlines, and Extensions Announced | McConnell Valdés LLC

What works
Build Resilience Through Supply Chain Diversification
The Supreme Court’s February tariff ruling and ongoing trade policy volatility have made supply chain resilience a top strategic priority for 2026. McKinsey’s Global Tech Agenda 2026 finds that top-performing companies are investing heavily in data visibility and agentic AI to monitor supply chain conditions in real time. With global inflation still elevated and trade policy uncertain, businesses that rely on single-source or concentrated supply chains face disproportionate risk.Practical steps to consider:Map your full supply chain and identify single points of failure tied to tariff-sensitive geographies.Use digital procurement tools to gain real-time visibility into supplier performance and inventory risk.Consider nearshoring or domestic sourcing for your highest-value inputs to reduce tariff exposure.Engage suppliers proactively about tariff pass-throughs and renegotiate contracts where possible.
Reference: McKinsey Global Tech Agenda 2026

Turn AI Adoption from Pilot to Production
Deloitte’s 2026 State of AI in the Enterprise report identified a persistent “proof-of-concept trap” where enthusiasm for AI outpaces operational readiness. Only about 25% of companies have successfully scaled 40% or more of their AI experiments into production. The biggest opportunity — and competitive differentiator — in 2026 is closing that gap. McKinsey research confirms that companies creating value from AI agents are redesigning entire business domains, not just launching isolated use cases.
Practical steps to consider:Audit your current AI pilots: which are generating real ROI, and which are stuck in test mode?Assign clear ownership and accountability for AI implementation beyond the IT department.Invest in data infrastructure first — AI without clean, accessible data rarely scales.Redesign workflows end-to-end around AI capabilities rather than adding AI as a layer on top of old processes.
Reference: Deloitte State of AI in the Enterprise 2026

Top Headlines in Business

Axios / OMFIFFive Economic Themes Shaping 2026: Tariffs, AI, and the K-Shaped Expansion
Economic analysts entering 2026 identified five dominant themes: tariff uncertainty following the IEEPA ruling, fiscal stimulus from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act adding roughly 2.3 percentage points to Q1 GDP, AI investment broadening but productivity gains remaining uneven, a K-shaped expansion where wealth gains are sustaining aggregate demand at the top while average household savings are near the bottom of healthy ranges, and Federal Reserve leadership transition with Chair Powell’s term expiring in May.
🔍Read More: Axios — The 5 Economic Themes We’re Watching in 2026

Federal ReserveGovernor Barr on AI and the Labor Market
Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr delivered a major speech in February 2026 addressing AI’s potential impact on labor markets, noting that current conditions show near-zero job creation alongside low firing rates — a “delicate balance” leaving employment vulnerable to negative shocks.
🔍Read More: Federal Reserve — Gov. Barr on AI and the Labor Market

Manufacturing DiveU.S. Manufacturing Sector Navigating AI, Tariffs, and Domestic Investment Push
According to Manufacturing Dive, U.S. manufacturing in 2026 is undergoing a transitional period as the federal government works to unlock incentives for domestic investment while the industry simultaneously loses thousands of jobs to automation. The Deloitte 2026 Manufacturing Industry Outlook highlights increased investment in smart manufacturing, AI, and supply chain resilience as the defining strategic trends.
🔍Read More: Manufacturing Dive — 2026 Outlook

 📆 JOIN US:

Business Opportunity Exchange 2026: Impact SourcingWhere Business Meets Purpose
April 17, 2026Wyndham Grand Río Mar, Puerto Rico🔗 More information