San Juan EDC approves $1,500 sponsorship for local 'Women's Renew' conference

Adriana Salazar, representing the Sisters of Joy and Saint John's the Baptist Catholic Church, asked the San Juan Economic Development Corporation on March 17 for financial support for the group’s fifth annual Women’s Renew conference and outlined plans for programming and local economic benefits. "My name is Adriana Salazar, and I come from Saint John's Baptist Catholic Church," she said during a presentation that described spiritual-growth sessions, a mass and breakout workshops.

Salazar told the board the conference draws regional attendees — "We have over 200 some women that will be coming to our conference," she said — and will bring visitors who could use local hotels, dine at the Gilman Museum venue and hire local vendors such as a screen-printer the group uses for shirts. She said the event provides social-media recognition and program-placement for sponsors and that conference expenditures cover speakers, venue costs and translation services for Spanish-speaking participants.

After the presentation, a board member moved to provide a $1,500 silver-level sponsorship. The motion was seconded and, following the board’s roll call, passed.

The sponsorship will be credited on the conference’s printed program and social-media posts, the presenter said. The board did not discuss additional conditions tied to the grant in the provided transcript.

The EDC’s approval is intended to support local tourism and small businesses by directing conference spending to hotels, the museum and local vendors. The board’s next stated action on related economic-development negotiations took place in executive session later in the meeting.