Our region is already well-connected and is emerging rapidly as a technological destination. Some of the largest internet companies have selected sites in Western North Carolina to house their data centers. These facilities house extensive computer systems that store and serve vast amounts of data for technologically based corporations and operations.
Google invested $600 million in their new data center in Lenoir, which currently employs about 200 people in the area. Plans are also underway to add an additional data center to the first.
Apple is currently building a $1 billion data center in Maiden that will provide a major East Coast infrastructure hub to support their iTunes and iPhone stores.
Facebook recently announced plans to build a new $450 million data center in Forest City. They plan to open their doors in March, 2012, which will create more than 250 construction jobs and approximately 40 full-time permanent jobs upon opening.
The presence of these information industry giants in our area will no doubt attract more industrial attention, and more new projects to Western North Carolina. As the area advances and enhances its technological capabilities, we will ensure that we will have the infrastructure to continue to attract new businesses.
