Puerto Rico clout felt in money, votes

Two local events Friday will underscore the rise of Puerto Rican influence and economic clout in Central Florida.

In the morning, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló plans a town hall in Kissimmee to encourage Puerto Ricans in the Orlando area to vote and influence politics. He has pushed for Puerto Rican statehood, along with more federal spending to aid recovery from Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island in September. With 5.45 million Puerto Ricans — including more than a million in Florida — living in the states, Rosselló believes they can make a difference in elections in a number of locations.

On Friday evening, 10 miles away, major Puerto Rican shoe

retailer Novus will have a grand opening at Florida Mall — the latest Puerto Rican business to move or expand to the mainland. Those businesses are also bringing more economic muscle even as many Puerto Ricans have landed in Central Florida after the hurricane hit.

“You hear people who are concerned that it’s going to tax our social services, and it is, temporarily,” said Lourdes Mola, acting president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando. “But here at the chamber, we are seeing many entrepreneurs.”

Some Puerto Ricans, such as the owners of Novus, are bringing new investment or starting businesses. Novus spent about $500,000 building out its new store, which will employ 15 people.

Other Puerto Rican businesses already in Orlando include Casa Febus, a chain of home décor and furniture stores; El Mesón chain of sandwich stores; and Valija Gitana, a chain of clothing and accessory stores.

“Orlando is the favorite spot for Puerto Ricans to migrate to, not only in the past year, but it’s been increasing for years,” said Sandra Castellon, director of marketing for Grupo Novus, which is based in Guaynabo near San Juan.

The company has 60 stores in Puerto Rico. Soon after it opened in South Florida, it was deluged with messages from Orlando residents wondering when the retailer would come to Central Florida.

Mola rattled off a list of the most common types of businesses Puerto Rican arrivals are starting: cosmetology, engineering, general contracting, construction, translation, tutoring, cleaning and even baked goods.

The Hispanic Chamber has been offering free membership to Puerto Rican evacuees. Mola says the group has been overwhelmed by phone calls about it, but registration is also available on the chamber’s website at HCCMO.org.

The economic outlook for Puerto Rico has been dim for years, but Maria dealt it a body blow. The economy is expected to remain in recession this year because of steep drops in private consumption and fixed investment, according to a survey of economists by Focus Economics Consensus. It estimated the island’s gross national product will contract another 1.8 percent this year.

Rosselló’s town hall will be the first in the U.S. since he made public statements about mobilizing mainland voters, especially those of Puerto Rican origin or descent, to vote for politicians who will support policies that benefit the island.

“We want the Puerto Rican community in Orlando to get involved in politics, to help raise awareness and be our voice, since we don’t have a vote in Congress, but we are part of the United States,” said Yennifer Alvarez, spokeswoman for the governor.

The town hall is from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at the Kissimmee Civic Center, 201 E. Dakin Ave., in downtown Kissimmee. “Puerto Ricans in Central Florida are cordially invited” to the event, according to the Puerto Rican government’s official Twitter account.

Castellon has invited Rosselló to the Florida Mall store’s grand opening Friday evening, but he hadn’t confirmed his attendance as of Tuesday.

“Orlando is the favorite spot for Puerto Ricans to migrate to, not only in the past year, but it’s been increasing for years.” Sandra Castellon of Grupo Novus, a shoe retailer opening