PRIDCO Discretionary Direct Grant (Job Creation & Infrastructure)

PRIDCO Discretionary Direct Grant

Funds job creation and infrastructure at PRIDCO-facilitated Puerto Rico projects through direct sponsor engagement.

Eligibility · United States · US-PR

The Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) is the principal economic development agency for Puerto Rico and holds statutory authority to provide discretionary direct cash grant assistance to companies undertaking promoted industrial projects on the island. PRIDCO's Discretionary Direct Grant program targets job creation and infrastructure improvements at manufacturing, life sciences, aerospace, technology R&D, and other value-added operations. Unlike formula-based grant programs, PRIDCO's discretionary grants are negotiated bilaterally during the agency's onboarding and site-selection process — there is no published call for applications, no scoring rubric, and no published award cap. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis as companies approach PRIDCO through initial consultation, site visits, and contract negotiation.

Eligible recipients are for-profit companies undertaking PRIDCO-promoted projects in Puerto Rico; non-profits, universities, and research organizations are not eligible. The sectors most commonly supported include manufacturing, life sciences, aerospace, and technology R&D. In documented incentive packages compiled by site-selection advisors, PRIDCO discretionary grants have represented more than 30% of project capital expenditure, though this figure is descriptive of observed practice and not a published formula or cap. PRIDCO's grant assistance is typically structured as part of a broader incentive stack that may include Act 60 corporate tax rates of 4%, R&D tax credits, WIOA workforce training grants, federal Opportunity Zone tax deferrals, municipal license tax exemptions, and property tax reductions of up to 75%.

Companies seeking PRIDCO discretionary grant support should engage PRIDCO's Business Development team at the earliest stage of site-selection consideration, as grant terms are determined through the onboarding workflow rather than through a competitive application. The grant is embedded in a broader tenancy or operational agreement with PRIDCO. Award amounts, performance milestones, and match funding requirements are project-specific and are not published publicly, making direct engagement with PRIDCO the only path to understanding what a specific project might receive.