Puerto Rico lands $16 million defense-related manufacturing investment
By THE STAR STAFF
A Tennessee-based textile manufacturer plans to invest $16 million in a new facility in western Puerto Rico that will treat military uniforms with insect-repellent technology, a project expected to create dozens of jobs while further integrating the island into the U.S. defense supply chain.
Warmkraft Puerto Rico LLC, a division of Perimeter Insect Guard, will establish operations at the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company’s Guanajibo Industrial Park in Mayagüez, bringing a long-vacant industrial building back into use after more than 15 years. The company said the project is expected to create 56 jobs with an annual payroll of some $3.27 million.
The facility will specialize in treating military clothing with permethrin, an insect-repellent compound designed to protect service members from mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and Zika. The technology has been used on more than 25 million military uniforms over the past two decades and has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The investment comes as military planners continue to emphasize force readiness in regions, including Latin America, where insect-borne diseases remain a significant threat. Health experts have long noted the impact of mosquito-transmitted illnesses on military operations, particularly in tropical and subtropical environments.
Puerto Rico itself has grappled with recurring mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. Dengue reached epidemic levels on the island in 2024 and 2025, while public health officials have continued monitoring sporadic cases of Zika. Both diseases, along with malaria, remain prevalent in parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America where U.S. forces may operate.
Supporters of the project say the investment highlights Puerto Rico’s growing role in U.S. national security beyond traditional military infrastructure. In recent years, the island has attracted increased attention from federal agencies because of its strategic geographic location and its manufacturing capabilities.
The new operation also underscores Puerto Rico’s importance in healthcare and advanced manufacturing. The island remains one of the leading pharmaceutical production hubs under U.S. jurisdiction and has developed a significant presence in medical device manufacturing, biosimilars and life sciences research.
Economic development officials have increasingly promoted those sectors as part of efforts to attract reshoring and nearshoring investments from companies seeking to strengthen domestic supply chains.
For Puerto Rico, the Warmkraft project represents both an economic development win and a niche contribution to military readiness, linking the island’s manufacturing base to a specialized defense function aimed at protecting U.S. troops from some of the world’s most persistent battlefield threats.
