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CMPC's 2024 Social Fund Awards Over 500 Community Projects Between Maule and Los Lagos Regions

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Since 2016, the CMPC Social Fund has contributed to the development of projects for communities living near the company's operations. Thus, infrastructure projects, neighborhood equipment, access to basic services, and even sports-related initiatives have come to life over its nine editions.

In the 2024 call for proposals, through a joint effort with Cidere Biobío, 566 initiatives were selected to receive funding from the program. These projects emerged from 52 municipalities and various urban and rural sectors between the Maule and Los Lagos regions.

Zooming in on the data, the case of the Biobío Province stands out, where 235 initiatives were prioritized in the area, spanning 12 of its 14 municipalities: Los Ángeles, Mulchén, Yumbel, Cabrero, Quilleco, Quilaco, Santa Bárbara, Laja, San Rosendo, Tucapel, Negrete, and Nacimiento. Regarding project themes, 68% focused on community spaces, 25% on social impact, and 8% on the environment.

From the company,the Deputy Manager of Cross-Cutting Projects, Paula Aguirre,highlighted the role of community organizations. "One of the drivers impacting local community development is nonprofit social organizations, which with great dedication and vocation always strive to improve the quality of life of their members or immediate surroundings. In this way, the CMPC Funds are a highly valued tool for groups that secure funding to bring their community initiatives to life."

Nacimiento Shines with 60 Projects

The municipality of Nacimiento, in the Biobío Province, where CMPC's Santa Fe plant operates, saw the highest number of social projects awarded by the fund in the province, with 60 initiatives (equivalent to 16% of the total).

One of the benefiting proposals was from the Villa Italia Neighborhood Council. They had successfully applied for the fund in 2021 and 2022, and in the 2024 edition, they were winners again. All their efforts have been directed toward strengthening their community center, as explained byJélica Erices, its president:"For my neighborhood council, it has been excellent; it has helped us a lot with setting up our center, both in infrastructure and implementation. We applied in 2021, 2022, and won. Now we want to work on the infrastructure and security of our center."

Laja for the Environment

Laja was the second municipality with the most projects, at 52 (14%). Among the initiatives in the municipality, the proposal from residents of the Las Rosas de Laja sector stood out—they applied to the CMPC Social Fund for the purchase of trash bins.

According to the president of their neighborhood council, Enoema Ortiz, this project will help maintain the cleanliness of the area, thereby improving public spaces: "Many neighbors leave plastic bags hanging on fences, and dogs tear them open, leaving trash scattered on the ground, which can cause infections and health problems for our neighbors. So, we opted for secure bins to prevent littering." Around 70 neighbors, mostly elderly, will benefit from the purchase of these bins.

Collipulli Prioritized Health, Animals, and Dance

Collipulli, in the Malleco Province, was the third municipality with the most projects, at 10%. Among the winning organizations were the Yeumún Sports, Cultural, and Social Club, which will promote a folk dance project; the animal welfare group "Patitas de Amor," which works with stray dogs; and Las Chilcas, a network of women with breast cancer founded in 2021. "This is the first fund we've applied for, and winning it is very rewarding because it fulfills Mrs. Arlene's dream," said Tamara Pulgar about the group's founder, Arlene Morales.