Carlos Ríos Pierluisi, secretary of Puerto Rico's Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC), announced Monday that the agency is seeking entrepreneurs to join the "Digital Store Academy," part of the Trade and Export Program (PCE), created in partnership with the Centro para Emprendedores de Puerto Rico. The program will build a Shopify e-commerce website for each participating entrepreneur and teach them to manage it, promote it, and sell online, aiming to boost sales especially before and during the holiday season. Ríos Pierluisi urged interested business owners to apply soon, as the academy runs from October to December.
Ulises Méndez Vega, director of the PCE, said 50 selected entrepreneurs who meet application requirements may participate. Training will be provided by staff of the Centro para Emprendedores de Puerto Rico from October 1 to December 17. A four-session in-person workshop will be held October 20 at the DDEC's Centro de Emprendimiento in Hato Rey, covering topics like Facebook and Instagram for business, online sales strategies, and legal aspects of e-commerce.
Virtual sessions will be individualized, including discovery sessions, delivery of each participant's Shopify page, and training on how to administer and update it.