The US Trade & Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a grant to Jamaica’s electric utility Jamaica Public Service (JPS) for technical assistance to transform New Kingston into a smart city.

The USTDA’s funding will help JPS identify and deploy smart technologies and develop a roadmap for broader smart cities implementation throughout the country.

“The timing is perfect for this technical assistance, as global circumstances demonstrate the need for continued investment in reliable and resilient infrastructure,” said Todd Abrajano, USTDA’s chief operating officer. “We are certain that helping New Kingston become a smart city and deploying smart technologies throughout Jamaica will make a lasting impact on the lives of so many people.”

JPS selected Virginia-based Tuatara Group to carry out the assistance, which will create opportunities for US companies to export ICT and energy technology. The assistance will also leverage the smart street lighting infrastructure and control systems already implemented in New Kingston as a result of USTDA’s previous engagement with JPS.

“The technical assistance grant from USTDA will provide a big boost to JPS’s vision for a smart city in New Kingston, Jamaica,” said Michel Gantois, JPS president and CEO. “And we cannot do this alone. Partnerships are essential for the success of a project of this nature. The establishment of a smart city requires public-private partnerships, as well as the active involvement of stakeholders across sectors.”

The USTDA’s first projects in Jamaica date back to 1992 – the same year as the agency’s founding – and have supported both the private and public sectors in critical infrastructure development. The USTDA’s support of this project aligns with the administration’s priorities in the Latin American and Caribbean region and supports the goals of the Growth in the Americas (America Crece) initiative.

The USTDA helps companies create US jobs through the export of US goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. It links US businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.