rbudd@energize-eci.org

Muncie, IN – E. Roy Budd, Executive Director of Energize-ECI, Inc.; announced that a team from AngelouEconomics in Austin, TX recently traveled to East Central Indiana to conduct on-site evaluations of potential sites for data center development, to study the communities in the region and to meet with local officials and utility providers in Anderson, Marion, Muncie and Richmond.  This important economic development project was funded in part by a IEDC Regional Partnership Grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and supported by regional funding sources including Duke Energy, Indiana Michigan Electric, Wabash Valley Power and local economic development organizations from East Central Indiana.

Roy Budd commented, “It is imperative for East Central Indiana to continue to diversify its economic base to one comprised of industries offering long-term stability, growth potential, and best fit the resources of the region.  We have identified data centers as such a possibility – as data centers are utilized by most every business, are positioned for growth and offer higher paying, technology based jobs.  AngelouEconomics are experts in technology based economic development and specialize in the site analysis, locating and development of data centers.  East Central Indiana is a great fit with the general criteria for data center expansion, so we needed to take the next steps in identifying what sites within our ten-county region are best suited for data center development and which sites have the attributes to be marketable right now.  As soon as AngelouEconomics completes their report to us, we will begin focusing on a campaign to promote our regional sites to the data center industry.  We’ll keep the region advised of our progress in this important endeavor.”

“Data Centers are extremely capital intensive and provide high-wage, highly-skilled jobs.  The Angelou study will allow us to better position Delaware County to attract this type of investment,” said Terry Murphy, Vice President - Economic Development for the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance.

Edward Merchant, President of the Grant County Economic Growth Council, advised “The Grant County Economic Growth Council sees this as another example of the power of collaboration.  The Angelou project affords Grant County a rare opportunity to gain valuable insight into this unique industry.”

Data centers store and serve vast amounts of data and information required to manage businesses.  The data center facility houses a large number of computers and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems, enterprise software hosting and networking equipment.  They generally include redundant (or backup) power sources, redundant data communications connections, environmental controls (air and humidity conditioning, fire suppression, etc.) and special security systems.  Most medium  to large-sized companies have, or use, some kind of data center – including “FORTUNE 500” corporations, healthcare, financial services, retail, telecom, and internet-based companies (search engines, e-retailing, web hosting and co-location providers).  As the demand for the quick processing of information becomes even more important, there will be a growing emphasis on establishing free-standing data centers. Smaller businesses often contract their data management needs to specialty data centers.

Roy Budd summarized the overall positive outcomes associated with the data center site development project for East Central Indiana:

-       Addresses regional need for high skill, high wage jobs

-       Expands job creation opportunities for the region

-       Develops human capital and helps retain talent

-       Fosters entrepreneurialism in the region

-       Targets data centers as a prime cluster opportunity

-       Involves participants from all ten Energize-ECI counties

-       Empowers regional leaders to address area challenges

and develop opportunities in a pro-active way

-       Involves a diverse collaboration of stakeholders

-       Positions the region as a “hot spot” for technology industries

-       Helps region have sites better prepared to meet data center

needs and for other tech-based opportunities

-       Sparks a spirit of collaboration in developing similar projects

-       Provides a working model to others regarding collaborative efforts

-       Offers potential to bring new capital investment to region

The economic development officials from all ten Energize-ECI, Inc. counties supplied descriptions of their available sites, along with information regarding utilities, workforce, incentives and other criteria.  AngelouEconomics professionals then evaluated each site to determine its current potential as a sire for a data center, plus advising what improvements would be needed by the non-qualifying sites.  In early September, a team from AngelouEconomics traveled to East Central Indiana in conduct on-site inspections of the top four ranking sites with the greatest marketable potential for data center use.  The sites are located in Madison, Grant, Wayne and Delaware counties.  A summary report will be received in several weeks, advising Energize-ECI, Inc. which site(s) are most marketable, how they compare with U.S. benchmark sites and advise Energize-ECI, Inc. regarding developing strategies on connecting with companies with data center expansion plans. 

AngelouEconomics is an expert in technology-based economic development planning, specializing in creating strategies for communities seeking high impact development.  Since its founding in 1995, the firm has consulted with more than 100 companies and communities around the world, providing technology-based economic development strategic planning; real estate services; site analysis; industry cluster analysis and technology industry research; workforce assessments; entrepreneurial strategies and R&D assessments; economic impact studies; and site selection services.  AE has quickly become the largest full-service independent economic development consulting firm in the United States.

Energize-ECI is a public/private partnership providing pro-active services and programs to encourage new business investment in East Central Indiana.  Energize-ECI acts as a single point of contact for promoting the many advantages of operating a business in the region, collects and cultivates leads and assists individuals, site consultants and companies researching  the area.  Energize-ECI answers inquiries regarding sites, buildings and regional information, then directs leads to the appropriate local economic development groups.  Energize-ECI, Inc. provides support to: Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph, Rush and Wayne counties.  Funding for trade missions, exhibits, marketing, programs, services and materials is provided by public and private entities throughout East Central Indiana, by foundations and grants.

Details about Energize-ECI, Inc. and information about East Central Indiana may be viewed at their comprehensive website www.energize-eci.org.  The site may be translated into six languages, in addition to English.  The regional economic development organization may be contacted at the Energize-ECI Engagement Center, 122 E, Main St., Muncie, IN 47305, by phone at (765) 254.1420; fax (765) 254.1450 and by email info@energize-eci.org.  Energize-ECI’s  48-page REGIONAL-FOCUS magazine, which contains a great overview of East Central Indiana, may be read or downloaded by going to the website.  Energize-ECI, Inc. is a member of the Japan-America Society of Indiana.

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Prepared by Tom Farris / T.L. Farris & Associates

P.O. Box 2542 / Muncie, IN 47307-0542

Phone: 765.284.5313 / Fax: 765.284.5314