San Juan, Puerto Rico – September 21, 2026 -- Crowley has committed a $40,000 sponsorship to expand a workforce-readiness partnership with Junior Achievement Americas (JAA) that will reach more than 350 students in Puerto Rico, introducing them to maritime, logistics and supply chain careers.
Puerto Rico imports roughly 80% of goods through its ports, driving demand for skilled labor
The Puerto Rico Ports Authority estimates that approximately 80% of the island's imports arrive via its ports, a figure that underscores the economic weight of maritime and logistics employment on the island. The new initiative targets students ages 15 to 19 enrolled in career and technical education programs at public high schools.
Crowley and JAA partner directly with Puerto Rico's Department of Education
The collaboration establishes a formal agreement with the Puerto Rico Department of Education to implement JAA's workforce-readiness curriculum in public schools. Programming will cover self-awareness, networking, interview preparation and industry engagement, including mentoring and workplace exposure aligned with the island's labor market needs.
Crowley employees to run 50 to 100 student engagements annually
Beyond the $40,000 sponsorship for curriculum implementation, Crowley staff will lead career panels, port tours and job-shadowing activities. The company expects these hands-on experiences to engage between 50 and 100 students per year, offering direct insight into roles supporting Puerto Rico's supply chain and transportation networks.
Existing Crowley-JAA partnership has already reached roughly 9,000 students since 2022
Crowley's broader partnership with Junior Achievement, active in the U.S. mainland and Central America since 2022, has delivered 418 experiential learning experiences and 174 classroom programs, drawn more than 100 industry volunteers, and reached approximately 9,000 students across nearly 60,000 instructional hours. The program earned Crowley the title of Junior Achievement of Northeast Florida's Company of the Year in 2025.
"By pairing Junior Achievement America's proven career-readiness curriculum with Crowley's maritime, transportation and logistics expertise, we can help students see a path to rewarding careers that contribute to the island's growth and prosperity," said Crowley Vice President of HR and Talent Strategy Francheska Bensan.
Puerto Rico Secretary of Education Eliezer Ramos Parés said the agreement gives students firsthand exposure to professional opportunities in maritime transportation, logistics and supply chain management sectors critical to the island's economy.