Puerto Rico Manufacturing Extension Primex Inc

TThe project benefits small and medium companies located in eleven (11) rural municipalities of Puerto Rico with access to PRiMEX's proven industry-tested business methodologies, resources, and tools. The project focuses first on an assessment of the business to identify gaps and areas for improvement related to focus areas with the goal of reducing the gaps and making them more competitive and resilient.

The Supply Chain program seeks to encourage and help all small businesses to optimize their supply chain with access to an exclusive database to connect with the different suppliers on the island. The program seeks to identify the capabilities and needs of companies that purchase products outside of Puerto Rico, to provide them with a tool to obtain local products and identify where they are located. It also helps to explore a detailed electronic map of manufacturing in Puerto Rico so that small businesses can connect with other entrepreneurs on the island.

The Fiona Program was established in response to the needs of Puerto Rico's manufacturing companies that were adversely impacted by Hurricane Fiona on September 18, 2022. The Program provides cost-free services to businesses focused on Rapid Disaster Recovery Planning, in conjunction with other technical services. The goal is to serve 80 manufacturing companies with 99 or fewer employees around the island, especially in the Southwest Region most impacted by the hurricane.

This is a subaward of IOWA State University for 15k to Create job postings, attend a career fair/recruiting event, post jobs on college job boards, host info sessions, open interviews, etc. to recruit for interns and submit statement notifying CIRAS deliverable has been completed. Hire at least two students, Undergraduate students in Engineering, Business, and other manufacturing-related fields Students must identify as women, persons with disabilities, or one of three racial and ethnic groups (Black, Hispanic, or American Indian or Alaska Native) which are considered underrepresented in Science & Engineering.