Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) announced on Friday it will invest an additional $150 million to expand its generation data center site in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, near Boydton.
The expansion will add another data center to the operation site, as well as 21 MW of electric power capacity.
Microsoft first announced in August 2010 that it would invest up to $499 million in the data center, making it the largest investment project in Southern Virginia's history.
Industry experts have speculated that the expansion of the advanced data center site is part of Microsoft's strategy to scale up its cloud computing capacity.
The project will generate 10 new jobs, adding to the 50 new jobs that were created with the construction of the original project.
"As a crucial corporate partner to Southern Virginia, I congratulate Microsoft Corp. on this additional investment in its Mecklenburg County site," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "The company's innovative data center design increases efficiency of operations, and this expansion will enhance the high-tech capabilities already in place as Microsoft continues to grow its operation."
Earlier this week, Microsoft held its Hostapaloooza roadshow event in Phoenix, Arizona, where it offered hands-on instruction and access to partners for web hosts that are already using Microsoft Service Provider Licensing Agreement.
Original Project in 2010 was Largest Economic Investment in History of Southern Virginia; Up to $500 Million Investment Created 50 Jobs
$150 million Expansion will Create 10 Additional New Jobs; Continue Growth of Company in County
RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Microsoft Corp. will invest an additional $150 million to expand their generation data center (Gen4) site in Mecklenburg County. The company will build an additional facility and add 21 MW of electric power capacity to the site. The project will create 10 new jobs. Microsoft's original project in 2010 involved an investment of up to $499 million and 50 new jobs.
Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "In 2010 I announced Microsoft's plans to establish its most advanced data center in Mecklenburg County, which represented the largest economic investment in Southern Virginia history. Just one year later, the company is making another significant investment to expand the operation site and add electric power capacity. Securing this state-of-the-art data center was an important win for the Commonwealth, and additional growth will further establish Virginia as an Information Technology leader."
"As a crucial corporate partner to Southern Virginia, I congratulate Microsoft Corp. on this additional investment in its Mecklenburg County site," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "The company's innovative data center design increases efficiency of operations, and this expansion will enhance the high-tech capabilities already in place as Microsoft continues to grow its operation."
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) are conducting further studies at the Virginia Army National Guard's Maneuver Training Center at Fort Pickett and in Nottoway County's Pickett Park to assess the potential for locating a planned Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) at the installation.
The move, announced by Gov. Bob McDonnell this week, comes after a year-long comprehensive search process
that included the review of over 40 publicly-held sites in the vicinity of Washington, D.C., which led to Fort Pickett and Pickett Park being selected as a potential candidate.
The U.S. State Department is considering Fort Pickett and neighboring Pickett Park in Nottoway County for a Foreign Affairs Security Training Center that could bring up to 1,000 jobs.
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Tuesday that the State Department chose the site over 40 others in the Washington area and has started a years-long evaluation to determine whether the property is suitable for the project.
The center would be used to train federal government staff posted at American embassies, as well as some foreign security personnel.
Foreign affairs security personnel train at 19 locations nationwide. The training functions from those facilities would be consolidated at Fort Pickett.
John N. Prosise, the assistant county administrator in Nottoway, said he began conversations about the land 15 months ago with the U.S. General Services Administration and State Department.
The agencies are interested in using several hundred acres of Pickett Park, a roughly 3,600-acre business and industrial area that the county assumed ownership of after the 1995 round of base realignments and closures. The land was carved off of Fort Pickett and currently houses a Virginia Tech agricultural research center and the Blackstone Army Airfield, among other things.
The Mid-Atlantic Advanced Manufacturing Center in Greensville County, Virginia was recently recognized by Southern Business & Development Magazine in its annual Top Ten in the South lists. MAMaC was recognized in the category of: "Ten Best Automotive Assembly Plant Sites in the Southern Auto Corridor." MAMaC was the only site listed in Virginia or North Carolina.
Lt. Governor Bill Bolling stated, "Congratulations to the Mid-Atlantic Advanced Manufacturing Center for being recognized as one of the 'Ten Best Automotive Assembly Plant Sites in the Southern Auto Corridor.' Manufacturing is a vital part of Virginia's economy. We know that we can't just be an economy that consumes things, we need to be an economy that makes things too. I look forward to the localities in the region working together to promote Virginia's only certified megasite facility. This facility will enhance Southern Virginia's economic development opportunities for years to come."
Home Care Industries, Inc. to open manufacturing operation; Largest Supplier of Floor Care Accessories in North America
Virginia Beats out North Carolina, Mississippi and South Carolina for Project
RICHMOND- Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Home Care Industries, Inc., one of North America's leading floor care companies, will invest $1.5 million to open a manufacturing and distribution operation in Mecklenburg County. The project will create 150 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina, Mississippi and South Carolina for the project.
Speaking about the announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "Southern Virginia is on the rebound, and Home Care Industries' new manufacturing and distribution operation is further positive news for this region. Mecklenburg County was able to provide a building to meet the company's infrastructure needs, as well as convenient proximity to Home Care's plant in North Carolina. I welcome Home Care to Virginia and look forward to working with them in the future."
"I congratulate the largest supplier of floor care accessories in North America on calling Mecklenburg County home to its first manufacturing and distribution facility in the Commonwealth," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "Home Care Industries supplies key accounts and national retail chains that are major household names, and I am pleased the company will have a presence in Southern Virginia."
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