North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley broke ground today for the state's new data center in Rutherford County. The new 53,000ft┬▓ facility will provide the state with the ability to store and back up data for all state agencies in the case of a natural disaster or homeland security threat. The critical state operations currently managed at the Raleigh data center would then be transferred to the center in Rutherford County.
Easley proposed and secured $24.8 million for the new data center in the current 2006-2007 budget. The center will bring a $3 million investment to the state and will provide 30 to 50 new jobs to Rutherford County. The new employees will receive specialized training through Isothermal Community College and the North Carolina Office of Information Technology Services.
Site work and grading for the new center began on September 13th and construction will begin immediately. The center is expected to be complete by January 2008.