What does it take to deliver resilient housing at scale in the Caribbean? Hint: It's not just funds

September 28, 2026

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MIAMI, FL— What does it take to deliver resilient housing at scale in the Caribbean? That question was at the center of a panel featuring James Turner, IBTS Director of Federal Programs, during the 10th Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF) in Miami. The event brought together government officials, developers, investors, infrastructure leaders, utilities, development finance organizations, and public-sector decision makers from more than 30 Caribbean nations and territories to discuss the region's infrastructure priorities and investment needs.


James was featured on stage for the "Delivering Affordable and Resilient Housing in the Caribbean" panel discussion, alongside Bermuda housing leader Jeane Nikolai and Caribbean business executive André C. Walcott. The discussion focused on a challenge shared across the region: how to provide safe, affordable housing while strengthening communities against hurricanes, flooding, and other natural hazards.


Drawing on IBTS' 5-decade-long experience supporting the US Department of Housing (HUD), as well as our experience in FEMA-funded housing and recovery programs, James emphasized that resilient housing is about much more than construction. Successful programs depend on strong building codes, qualified workers, reliable materials, effective quality assurance, and the systems needed to move projects from funding to implementation.


Fellow panelists also shared their interesting perspectives based on their experiences. Jeane Nikolai stressed that homes must be built to withstand the region's climate conditions and backed by dependable warranty terms, noting that a lack of such options can narrow the housing choices available. Resilient construction, she emphasized, is essential to protecting both the homes themselves and the people who live in them. André C. Walcott underscored the importance of consistent building standards to ensure quality construction, along with the need for qualified, well-trained personnel and approved building materials, all of which contribute to safer, better-performing homes.


The discussion and audience questions made one point clear: housing shortages are a shared challenge across countries, but the obstacles to meeting housing goals vary from place to place. Funding is a significant concern, but it is not the only driving factor in every case.


The conversation reinforced why organizations such as IBTS are needed. Across the Caribbean, governments are investing in housing, infrastructure, and resilience, but many face common implementation challenges, including regulatory requirements, workforce shortages, compliance oversight, and program delivery. IBTS helps bridge those gaps via program management, building code compliance, quality assurance, inspections, resilience planning, and related technical services.


Beyond the panel discussion, CARIF provided an opportunity for IBTS to engage directly with government representatives, infrastructure agencies, development institutions, utilities, developers, and private-sector partners working throughout the Caribbean. These conversations highlighted a growing focus on turning funding and policy commitments into real-world projects that strengthen communities and improve long-term resilience.


Reflecting on the experience, James noted:

"I was honored to participate in discussions with a group of solution-oriented leaders and professionals addressing the critical needs of the Caribbean. I look forward to continuing these important conversations and turning the concepts into actionable implementations."


For IBTS, the message from CARIF was clear: resilient housing requires collaboration, practical implementation, and a commitment to quality at every stage. As Caribbean nations continue investing in their future, IBTS remains committed to helping communities transform plans, funding, and policy goals into lasting results.


About James Turner:

Mr. Turner provides nearly 20 years of professional experience, which includes significant knowledge and experience with manufactured housing standards and regulations. His experience includes technical and regulatory projects, design evaluations, performance assessment, conformity assessment, and technical regulatory research and analysis.


About IBTS:

With a mission to strengthen communities, IBTS serves as a trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments in advancing economic development. Its services ensure the effective planning, implementation, and evaluation of renewable energy projects and federally funded energy and sustainability programs—optimizing performance, reducing risk, and promoting the efficient use of public funds.

Beyond its expertise in solar quality assurance, IBTS’s Puerto Rico office provides services in federal fund management; disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery; municipal planning; and resilience strategies. As a nonprofit organization, IBTS is guided by a Board of Directors with representatives from the Council of State Governments (CSG), International City/County Management Association (ICMA), National Association of Counties (NACo), National Governors Association (NGA), and the National League of Cities (NLC). For more information, visit www.ibts.org.

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September 18, 2026
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IBTS Exceeds Weatherization Goal, Upgrades 103 Puerto Rico Homes

July 21, 2026
The Institute for Building Technology and Safety has completed energy-efficiency, health and safety improvements in 103 Puerto Rico homes through a federally financed weatherization program, exceeding its goal of 100 households in about six weeks. The nonprofit organization, known as IBTS, managed operations and coordinated the latest phase of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce’s Energy Public Policy Program. Weatherization programs are intended to reduce household energy costs by making homes more efficient while addressing conditions that can affect residents’ health and safety. The Puerto Rico initiative prioritized low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities, according to IBTS. The organization did not specify the individual improvements made in each home but said the work was intended to increase comfort, improve living conditions and strengthen resilience. IBTS handled project management, inspections, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, document control and staff training, the organization said. The project also reported a 98% satisfaction rate among participants. “This program demonstrates what is possible when federal resources are translated into practical, measurable improvements for families and communities,” said Agnes Crespo-Quintana, IBTS’s Caribbean regional director. Alvin Miranda-Colón, manager of the Weatherization Assistance Program, said the initiative was intended to make energy more affordable while supporting sustainability and community resilience. IBTS said the project required coordination among government officials, contractors, auditors, inspectors, technology providers and participating communities. The organization said that work also developed procedures, trained personnel and expanded institutional capacity that could be used in future federally financed energy, housing and infrastructure programs. Judelly Hernández-Morales, the IBTS project manager, said cooperation between the public and private sectors helped translate federal funding into improvements for participating households.

IBTS Highlights Community-Centered Disaster Recovery, Resilience Strategies at SAME San Juan Industry Day 2026

March 6, 2026
San Juan, Puerto Rico - March 6, 2026 ---The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) shared insights from its extensive work supporting disaster recovery and infrastructure resilience in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during the 2026 Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) San Juan Field Chapter Industry Day 2026, held March 3–5.  Hosted by SAME at El Conquistador Hotel in Fajardo, the multi-day conference convened federal agencies, government leaders, engineering and construction professionals, and private sector partners to discuss regional infrastructure priorities and collaboration opportunities across Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the broader Caribbean. During the panel “Resiliency for the Future,” Agnes Crespo Quintana, Esq., IBTS’s Director of the Puerto Rico Region, shared field-based perspectives on the long road to recovery following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Drawing from nearly a decade of on-the-ground implementation experience, Crespo Quintana emphasized the importance of community-driven recovery strategies that prioritize local engagement, transparency, and long-term resilience. “Recovery and resilience cannot be designed from afar”, said Crespo Quintana, adding that “they must be built alongside the communities who lived through the disaster and understand its realities. At IBTS, we believe that the most effective solutions begin with listening — ensuring community voices guide strategy while technical expertise translates those needs into practical, scalable solutions that strengthen resilience for generations”. IBTS is a nonprofit organization with more than 50 years of technical, engineering, and professional services experience supporting federal, state, and local governments, as well as private-sector partners. Its expertise includes program and project management; quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC); engineering review and technical oversight; inspection and monitoring; regulatory support; community engagement and stakeholder coordination. Across the Caribbean, IBTS has supported efforts to strengthen infrastructure, reduce risk, and advance energy independence and grid reliability, including initiatives related to distributed energy systems, microgrids, and other strategies that enhance long-term power security and dependable service. A hallmark of IBTS’ work in the region has been its community-centric, “bottom-up” approach , which integrates risk assessment, stakeholder mapping, and local engagement to ensure recovery strategies reflect the priorities of the communities they serve. This approach strengthens transparency, accountability, and compliance across federally funded recovery programs while fostering trust between institutions and residents. That approach is reflected in IBTS’s work supporting resilience, recovery, and mitigation planning through HUD and FEMA-funded programs, along with related workforce development and program implementation efforts carried out in partnership with public-sector entities. “Preparation must become part of our culture,” she noted. “In the Caribbean, where natural disasters are an ongoing reality, resilience cannot be optional. It must be embedded into our systems, our infrastructure, and our people. By equipping local communities with knowledge, tools, and opportunity, we ensure recovery efforts lead not just to rebuilding, but to lasting stability and prosperity”. During the panel, Crespo Quintana also underscored that investments in workforce training and local capacity-building are essential to sustaining these long-term resilience strategies. The SAME Industry Day conference featured exhibits, technical training sessions, networking events, and panels focused on doing business in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, including sessions on small business engagement, mentor-protégé partnerships, and infrastructure development across the region, with key panelists from the Government of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, among others. About IBTS: With a mission to strengthen communities, IBTS serves as a trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments in advancing economic development. Its services ensure the effective planning, implementation, and evaluation of renewable energy projects and federally funded energy and sustainability programs—optimizing performance, reducing risk, and promoting the efficient use of public funds. Beyond its expertise in solar quality assurance, IBTS’s Puerto Rico office provides services in federal fund management; disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery; municipal planning; and resilience strategies. As a nonprofit organization, IBTS is guided by a Board of Directors with representatives from the Council of State Governments (CSG), International City/County Management Association (ICMA), National Association of Counties (NACo), National Governors Association (NGA), and the National League of Cities (NLC). For more information, visit www.ibts.org .