Curtis Davis, 23, has been operating New Era Technology Services, which trades as Net Services Limited, at 29 Spanish Town Road, since he was 19. The internet café which also provides computer parts and accessories, came about because the St George's College old boy and JN Small Business Loans Limited (JNSBL) client has always had a knack for fixing electronic devices.

"When I was younger, they used to call me the 'genius'," he fondly recalled. "People would take their phones for me to fix," which he did for a small price.

The Tivoli Gardens resident soon advanced to repairing computers. That interest in electronic devices would become his discipline at St George's College in Kingston, prior to moving on to the vocational training development institute (VTDI) to continue studies in Information and Communication Technology.

"After leaving school, I got a job with Sangster's Book Store in Mall Plaza, Half-Way Tree, and they placed me in charge of their internet café," he said. That job gave him room to explore his technical abilities as he implemented efficient and a profitable pricing mechanism, skills which he would use to his advantage when he opened his business in 2009.

internet café

"There was already one Internet café in west Kingston, and they didn't offer the services I wanted," Curtis said. "Two friends from St George's provided the capital and also helped me with networking to start my own business."

Capital was scarce at that point, however, which was the reason he sought a loan with JN Small Business Loans (JNSBL).

He went to a presentation that was being made by JNSBL at a church in Swallowfield, St Andrew, and was introduced to Frank Whylie, General Manager, JNSBL, who was also delighted by Curtis' business model.

"What Curtis offered was not only a workable business idea, it is a good social enterprise, which benefits the people of west Kingston," Whylie commented. "Having access to internet services are, especially, critical in times like these, especially for our students."

telecommunications provider

The application process was not cumbersome. Curtis got his loan.

New Era Technology has grown, in the last four years of operation, to also become a dealer for telecommunications provider, LIME, in the past year. The company has few employees - a computer technician, two assistants and Curtis. It also contracts persons on an 'as needed' basis.

"Whenever I come here, I can always rely on the assistance of Davis or his assistant," comments Akeeno Clarke, a third-form student at the St. Andrew Technical High School, who was busy trying to complete an assignment at the internet café. He added that, "If there is something I don't understand, they show me how to do it."

Maintaining a service, on which the people of west Kingston can depend, is deeply satisfying, Curtis said. "There are many people who want to learn about computers and I am very happy for that."