Central Mountain Region Community Network

Rural communities in the Central Mountain Region face a variety of challenges resulting in limited economic opportunities, poverty, unemployment, population loss, and an increase in the aging population. The network is composed of nine municipalities, making up approximately 300,000 people. This diverse region also includes the coastal municipality of Ponce, recognized for its historical district and where the airport and port are located, providing opportunity for investment in tourism and cargo shipments. 

Most communities in the region are remote and have limited access to basic services such as healthcare, education, and transportation. The rise in the aging population, higher rates of mortality rates, and low birth rates puts pressure to provide services to the elderly population while exacerbating the fiscal constraints of the local government.  

The region has experienced significant environmental degradation in recent years, with deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution affecting local ecosystems and communities. Natural disasters have exacerbated the vulnerability of many communities and exposed the need to address energy, water, food, health and social resiliency. Climate change adaptation practices, infrastructure mitigation efforts, code enforcement in housing reconstruction, and community redevelopment capacity building, have been imperative to the recovery efforts for reducing risks to hazards and rebuilding stronger communities.