Now in its sixth year, Enap Impulsa will finance a total of 24 projects led by social and functional organizations in the municipality.
More accessible community centers, new sports equipment, and leadership workshops for community leaders are among the projects that ENAP will finance this year in Hualpén, after an evaluation committee selected a total of 24 organizations to receive funding through the ENAP Impulsa 2026 call for proposals, in the sixth edition of this social investment program.
The process collected 78 projects submitted by social and community organizations in the municipality. From these, 30 passed the eligibility stage and advanced to the evaluation phase. After reviewing each proposal for consistency, relevance, and impact, the evaluation committee — formed by representatives from Enap and other institutions in the region — awarded funding to 24 of them, totaling more than $128 million, Chilean pesos.
Of the total number of selected projects, 14 aim to improve the municipality's community infrastructure. The projects include renovating neighborhood community centers, adding accessibility features for people with limited mobility, and implementing energy saving measures. Another seven projects focus on local sports and culture, involving the provision of spaces and the purchase of equipment for related activities; while the remaining three projects focus on capacity strengthening through leadership and management workshops for community leaders.
Carlos García, manager of the Refinería Bío Bío, highlighted the contribution of this program to the region. “Enap Impulsa is a tool that helps strengthen local capacities and work together with organizations to improve the quality of life in the community. Every single project we are awarding today reflects our commitment to the development of our community,” said García.
The Main Characters
Some of the winners include the Hualpén Fire Department, the El Triángulo Sports Club, the Jazz Hualpén Cultural Association, the Hualpén Senior Citizens’ Community Association No. 2, and the Parque Central Folk Dance Group, among other sports, cultural, and neighborhood organizations in the area.
For the organizations that received funding, the financial support translates into concrete projects that had often been waiting a long time to come to life. This is the case of the Hualpén Jazz Big Band, whose director, José Herrera, noted that “this type of funding is important because it brings the whole community together, providing better spaces and accessibility tailored to each institution’s needs, while also strengthening the bond with Enap.” This effort has strengthened the institution and provided new resources so that children can continue to thrive and so that art and culture can reach everyone, since art is a right, not a privilege,” he emphasized.
Since they were created in 2021, the Enap Impulsa funds have financed more than 120 projects in Hualpén. With this latest award, the initiative has now financed more than 140 projects and continues to solidify its position among the social investment programs with the greatest impact across the Región del Biobío.
Social and functional organizations in Hualpén that have been operating for at least one year may apply for the next edition of Enap Impulsa using the ENAP Funds Call form (Fondos Concursables, by its name in Spanish), where the company will publish the guidelines and deadlines for the new call for proposals.