backtop

Print E-mail del.icio.us 57 comment(s) - last by Pirks.. on Jul 8 at 12:40 PM
Apple reportedly will announce the exact location of its $1B server farm

Apple is expected to announce the location of a new $1 billion data center that is expected to be built in Maiden, which is located in North Carolina's Catawba County.

City officials are expected to join Apple executives at a press conference later this afternoon to announce the new data center.  The Cupertino-based company has said on several occasions it plans to build a new server farm in rural North Carolina -- Catawba County is currently plagued by double-digit unemployment, so it's possible thousands of jobs could be created at the new facility.

In addition to an expected 3,000 full-time and part-time jobs at the facility over the next 10 years, hundreds of contractors and employees will be responsible for building the facility, though it's unknown when construction will begin.

Maiden Mayor Bob Smyre, when asked about an Apple facility in his town, said the Catawba County Economic Development Corp. will be responsible for making any announcements.

It appears Catawba County is actively developing a new 180-acre business park that has support for backup electricity, fiber-optic and water, which led some journalists and analysts to point to the county as the location for the Apple data center.

Last month, the company announced its plans to build a data center somewhere in North Carolina, though an exact location for the facility wasn't offered.  The state modified its corporate income tax liability, allowing Apple to receive a $46 million state tax credit.

"North Carolina continues to be a prime location for growing and expanding global technology companies," state officials said after the announcement last month.

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
Obama
By Screwballl on 7/6/2009 4:10:31 PM , Rating: 3
/joke/
When Obama promised millions of people jobs and take them off government assistance, these millions went back to the polling place and asked to change their vote to McCain.
/end joke/

Based on the welfare statistics and lack of education in the area mentioned, this will only bring in large numbers of skilled workers from outside, not employ large numbers of local residents. Sure it will be a boost for the economy but the smart and employed already have a job so very few employees for this location will be locals or currently unemployed.
This county has around 20% minorities (7,000 out of the 150,000), less than 17% of total population has a Bachelors degree or higher, at least 15% of the county residents are on Medicare, Medicaid, welfare or other state/federal assistance based on their report (second link).

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37035.h...

http://www.co.catawba.nc.us/dss/anreport/AnReport....

It may sound nice and rosy on paper and in news reports but when there is already a lack of qualified employees in the county and surrounding areas, placing a high paying job center in a location without the qualified population to support it is just asking for trouble.




RE: Obama
By joey2264 on 7/6/09, Rating: 0
RE: Obama
By Sulphademus on 7/6/2009 4:52:21 PM , Rating: 2
I am completely willing to relocate 2 states to the south and risk becoming an Apple fanboi. Gotta beat the hell outta MD traffic!

And when an area brings in jobs, it normally spurs suplimental/support jobs such as those being brought in by the department stores (mentioned in another post) who are following where they think the next population bloom will be. Sure working at Wal-Mart or Target or whathaveyou isnt glamourous by any means but it is better than Appalachian poverty.


RE: Obama
By Mitch101 on 7/6/2009 4:34:14 PM , Rating: 2
I live 20 miles away from there. There is enough in the area and surrounding areas to make it work. That area is just getting its legs meaning major department stores are coming to those areas finally. Population growth in that area has been good. Housing is also priced well. Lot of bang for your buck. Now that hwy 16 (4 lane highway) is near or probably done now that stretch has a very good chance for rapid growth. If you dont work for Apple the commute to Charlotte should be greatly improved with hwy 16.


RE: Obama
By RandallMoore on 7/6/2009 6:42:23 PM , Rating: 2
There is a lot going on in NC this past year. I'm starting to wonder what my taxes will do in the next few years. They are already slipping things in here and there.


RE: Obama
By Mitch101 on 7/6/2009 11:24:21 PM , Rating: 3
NC is an awesome place to live but do your research on schools. NC has a lousy school system with certain areas that have great schools. I'm just going to list a few. Keep in mind Schools do a lot of rezoning because of expansion so be sure when you look that the schools are set.

Great School areas around Charlotte
Mooresville, NC
Fort Mill, SC (Very popular among the Microsoft support people) Microsoft has a facility in south Charlotte.

Great Schools around RTP (Research Triangle Park)
Cary, NC
Apex, NC

I lived in NJ for many years and while I love NJ people for me personally the state gov ruined the state. I personally had no idea how bad NJ was until I didn't live there any more. Not dissing NJ. Love the people but if you make a dollar that state finds a way of taking it and then some.

This is a comparison of MY living in NJ vs NC. Take it with a grain of salt as times have changed since 2005.

2005
New Jersey - Home 25 years old, $500,000 just over 2000 sq ft, Great Schools, will need roof soon, fence, pool liner, kitchen very dated, property taxes $6500. Tolls, High Car Insurance etc. Would have cost an additional 100K to purchase same home in worse condition to live closer to work. Commute time over an hour typically.

2005
North Carolina - Home New, 257K, just over 3000 sq ft, Great Schools (Very Important to me), Huge kitchen, property taxes $2300. No Tolls, Car Insurance 1/2 of NJ Costs. Would cost less to purchase same home closer to work. Commute time 35mins typically. Never once had to shovel snow however they do get ice here. I used to laugh how things got shut down for an inch of snow but its the ice that is the problem and they don't know how to clear it.

Job pay rate in NC is 80% of what I used to make in NJ. However because of the reduced pay rates and significantly reduced cost of living I have much more dosh in my pocket as a result. Some people get very hung up on their max pay and have no idea how much they really take home after all is said and done.

The down side there aren't as many jobs as NJ when you consider proximity to NY/PA but there are jobs and companies that pay well. Banks are big here in Charlotte. Make sure your record is squeaky clean and I mean squeaky clean I have heard of people not being hired because of bounced checks in their past.

4th of July here is amazing there are huge fireworks going off everywhere. If you so much as launch a bottle rocket in NJ you will see police. Halloween is amazing lots of kids here.

Tons of things to do around here we take the kids gem mining, Skiing is 2 hours away not great but livable, Florida is a 6 hour drive, Disney 8.5, Myrtle beach about 4 hours. Camping galore, parks, auto racing if your into that. There is a man made white water rafting park near charlotte.

If your in your 20's and looking for nightlife then Charlotte is not for you. I recommend you live in or near a big city.

I chose Charlotte over RTP because of Carowinds, The Panthers (Need Football), Roads infrastructure is ahead of RTP. I wouldn't be surprised is Charlotte gets a Pro Baseball team and there was talk of 2020 Olympics but I haven't been following either of those. If it happens great if not I have my football even if Im not a panthers fan yet.


RE: Obama
By RandallMoore on 7/7/2009 11:01:17 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, I know about the school systems haha. I am a product of bad education systems in NC myself. You make a good point though, they are all getting bad, but NC isn't in any way the worst. I love my home state, but lately we have been doing a lot of frivolous spending it seems like. Very good points though.

And about the fireworks thing; Yeah man, we are a pretty lax state when it comes to things like that. I guess I didn't seem like too much of a patriot when posting my earlier comment, but I do love my state. I just wish we would get our spending and priorities under control.


RE: Obama
By Mitch101 on 7/7/2009 2:28:15 PM , Rating: 3
I am a byproduct of a NJ school system which is supposed to have great schools. My 8 year old can probably beat me in spelling now. LOL.

Since living here I certainly see it with the state trying to figure out how to manage the growth by adding charges here and there. Still its much less than the bombs NJ dropped on me. Some schools here needing to be put up almost overnight. Lot of people moving into the state they need to build an infrastructure to keep it going. I hope they don't continue to make Atlanta style mistakes though by using traffic lights for every intersection of a highway intersection instead of a clover leaf or jug handle if your from the north. Funny that jug handle is a northern term and clover leaf is a southern term but I hope they learn to start using them and get rid of all the traffic lights. Visit Atlanta and try making a left turn and you will know what I mean.

The problem here is everyone knows someone who lives just over the border in South Carolina and hears how their property taxes went down somehow and were next to nothing to begin with. For example a buddy of mine was paying $1200 a year in property taxes and last year only paid out something like $800. You never hear of taxes going down ever yet South Carolina pulled it off.

Same thing used to happen to people in NJ they all know someone in PA paying much less for much more but that seems to have dried up before I left unless you want to commute and extra hour each way.

I love living here its been 4 years since I lived in NJ and I still have no desire to even visit. My take is if I'm getting in the car for an 8 hour drive I'm going south.


RE: Obama
By MrBlastman on 7/6/2009 4:37:36 PM , Rating: 3
While I agree with you on it not hiring many people from the surrounding community - it probably will not, a 20% Minority population in a Southern county is really not that high.

You probably don't live in the Southern states so I won't hold it against you, but where I live - Atlanta, Minorities make up 51.5% of our population. Granted, many of us don't live in the City, it is quite routine for any southern county or city to have a 30, 40 or 50% minority population. There are exceptions, of course, such as Forsyth County, GA which for years did everything in their power to prevent the influx of Minorities - these areas are growing rarer and rarer.

My wife, who is a yankee from up north, was in disbelief when she moved down here and noticed all the minorities everywhere. Apparently she was not used to it coming from northern states.

I would not see a 20% minority population as a detriment at all, in fact I see it as rather light compared to the rest of the south.

North Carolina is a beautiful state with lots of wilderness and areas to explore. Cawtawba county happens to be on the outskirts of this amazing area of the state and can guarantee you that there are many people that are into IT that love to hike, camp and explore the great outdoors. If anything, I would see this location as a draw to the intellectually astute (or those that think slightly more than the average citizen) due to the proximity to these outdoor excursions.

It is only 40 - 50 miles away from Blowing Rock, a wonderful mountain town and getaway with a beautiful drive up the mountain. Lake Norman, which it is close to is an awesome lake for boating and it also is not too far from Mountain Island Lake and for the city types, Charlotte.

No, I look at this location as a nice draw for those who want to get away from living in a crowded city and all the traffic.


RE: Obama
By corduroygt on 7/6/2009 4:44:28 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
Minorities make up 51.5% of our population

That's an interesting quote right there, how are they still considered "minorities"? Is "minorities" an euphemism for "non-white?"


RE: Obama
By MrBlastman on 7/6/2009 4:49:20 PM , Rating: 3
Affirmative, you are correct sir. In our case, we (white people) are now the minority in Atlanta.

In a traditional sense though, minorities might be classified as such based on the national averages where in 2006 Whites were 74% of the US population, Hispanics 14.8%, Blacks 13.4% and so on.

Source: Wikipedia (overlord of all correct information... ;))

So, in a sense, in Atlanta, you could say we are the new minority. Help, I'm being oppressed! ;)


RE: Obama
By 67STANG on 7/6/2009 5:03:37 PM , Rating: 2
I've got you beat. In California, White persons (non Hispanic) are at 42.7% as of 2007. Sure we're down into the 30%'s now...

Source: US Census Bureau

By the way, I now support affirmative action.


RE: Obama
By RandallMoore on 7/6/09, Rating: -1
RE: Obama
By Tamale on 7/7/2009 7:23:31 AM , Rating: 2
obviously you've never been in montana, the dakotas, minnesota, or wisconsin ;)


RE: Obama
By RandallMoore on 7/7/2009 11:03:16 AM , Rating: 2
And obviously you have never been near the East or Western seaboard. lol


RE: Obama
By Smilin on 7/6/09, Rating: -1
RE: Obama
By Smilin on 7/6/2009 4:58:08 PM , Rating: 2
Blowing Rock or Chimney Rock?

I agree it is indeed a nice area. I'm closer to Lake Wylie here.


RE: Obama
By MrBlastman on 7/6/2009 5:06:27 PM , Rating: 2
Blowing Rock - I was stuck in Lenoir for a few days on a business trip years ago and said to heck with staying in my hotel room so every afternoon/evening I'd take my rental car up through the mountains and the twisties enjoying all the scenery as it blew by. I think some of the best barbecue I have had was outta a small restaurant in Blowing Rock. Nice town, quaint and wouldn't mind taking the wife up there for a quiet weekend.

I love Lake Wylie. :) I have an Uncle that lived on that lake for years, lots of good memories boating and fishing there. I think I've boated on all the major lakes in that part of the state actually.


RE: Obama
By Smilin on 7/6/2009 4:47:07 PM , Rating: 2
How is this asking for trouble? Microsoft has no problems. Why would Apple be different?

It's nice that you tried to make a statistic out of everyone (what does % of minorities have to do with anything??) but I'm afraid your point was not made.

You're not going to find 3000 qualified tech workers in a population of 150,000 no matter where you search so obviously the job postings will be nationwide. (as MS has done). You also seemed to miss the fact that this is right outside of Charlotte, NC. Charlotte is a banking capitol with tons of IT workers and because of the banking troubles many of these are either unemployed or looking for better work.

The end result is still quite positive though: you now have a population of 153,000 many of which DO have degrees, are well paid, and are paying big taxes. Apple will do just fine.


RE: Obama
By tallredeye on 7/6/2009 4:52:53 PM , Rating: 3
7,000 out of 150,000 is 20% ?


RE: Obama
By MrPoletski on 7/7/2009 9:02:01 AM , Rating: 3
I have a similar crisis of percentage whilst drinking american beer and wondering why I'm still not drunk after 6 cans.

=)


RE: Obama
By clovell on 7/6/2009 5:27:19 PM , Rating: 2
The article is written in a way that makes me think of the state level. Research Triangle is in NC. Both Duke and UNC are in NC, among many others:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colleges_and_...

There are plenty of skilled jobs and workers to be had in NC. This will bring in tons of tax revenue, which will be poured into public works. It's a good thing all around , so I'm not sure why you're raining on the parade.


RE: Obama
By TheSpaniard on 7/6/2009 5:46:26 PM , Rating: 2
because the tax revenue isnt really there because of the tax incentives (reported on dailytech earlier)


RE: Obama
By Oregonian2 on 7/6/2009 6:36:46 PM , Rating: 2
I'd think Apple would require employees more of a technical nature, which would leave out UNC or Duke graduates.

More likely NC State graduates would be more appropriate.

But in any case, even if employees are brought in from elsewhere, that'll still help with unemployment so long as they're not imported from abroad.

My state has unemployment at about 12%, think we're in second place last I looked. Even if some folk left here to be employed there, it'd help our unemployment rate even if not NC's.


RE: Obama
By Smilin on 7/7/2009 10:51:57 AM , Rating: 2
I'm not sure if I were Apple that I would hire a graduate fresh out of school.


RE: Obama
By Oregonian2 on 7/7/2009 9:40:19 PM , Rating: 2
Possibly true, but for them an NCSU graduate with ten years of experience out of school still likely would be more appropriate for them than a Duke or UNC graduate ten years out of school.

Like many states, the "state" school is the state's "engineering school".

P.S. - "Graduates" aren't just those fresh out of school. One forever remains a graduate of wherever they graduated from.


RE: Obama
By akosixiv on 7/6/2009 6:06:49 PM , Rating: 2
remember that although this business might only employ a small amount of skilled workers from the area. There would also be more than a number of other services locally that would profit from the said business.

So all in all, it would prove to be a very big help to the locale.

Having any job now would be a lot better than not having a job at all.


RE: Obama
By BZDTemp on 7/7/2009 6:37:56 AM , Rating: 2
You forget that all those working at Apple will want food, shelter and all other sort of stuff that will mean jobs all the way up and down the food chain.


RE: Obama
By ayat101 on 7/7/2009 7:42:47 AM , Rating: 2
You miss the point somewhat. Wherever these higher level employees come from, they will be spending money in the community they live in on the whole range of things people normally need. In this way you create employment at all levels of the local economy, and not just at the top. Add in the lower qualified jobs the place will need as well, and it is additional help. Factor in longer term effects as motivating locals to get the education necessary to get employment in there, and you get even more economic benefits.


$1,000,000,000.00 worth of Macs?
By 67STANG on 7/6/2009 4:54:40 PM , Rating: 5
That's what, 3 or 4 decked-out G5 tower's?




RE: $1,000,000,000.00 worth of Macs?
By Pirks on 7/6/09, Rating: -1
RE: $1,000,000,000.00 worth of Macs?
By nayy on 7/6/2009 5:33:33 PM , Rating: 2
Your post is more accurate by several orders of magnitude, yet I enjoyed more his.


RE: $1,000,000,000.00 worth of Macs?
By Pirks on 7/6/09, Rating: -1
RE: $1,000,000,000.00 worth of Macs?
By ClownPuncher on 7/6/2009 6:54:10 PM , Rating: 4
Haven't you been absorbed into the Apple Hive Mind yet?


RE: $1,000,000,000.00 worth of Macs?
By 67STANG on 7/6/2009 7:40:48 PM , Rating: 4
So because we constantly state the (correct) fact that anything with a half-eaten apple on it is overpriced, we are poor?

Some of the richest people in the world have the money they have, because they don't waste it.

I think I speak for everyone here when I say that I hope your iPhone heats up to 500 degrees and flame-broils you-- which judging by recent events, is quite likely.


RE: $1,000,000,000.00 worth of Macs?
By Pirks on 7/6/09, Rating: -1
RE: $1,000,000,000.00 worth of Macs?
By 67STANG on 7/7/2009 11:04:15 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
The fact that's something is "overpriced" for your welfare check means nothing to your neighbor who makes more than you. Time to learn that people have different needs and not everyone is hunting for gigahertz/gigabytes like you do.

Right, just people that want to be productive. (i.e. - use a computer for more than decoration.)

quote:
My SE Z200 "iPhone" can't heat up 'cause it's made by SE, not by Apple. Suck it down losa :)

Actually it's made by underage Chinese children. Besides that, you cannot be considered a true Apple fan now-- you didn't by a 3GS the day it came out.


RE: $1,000,000,000.00 worth of Macs?
By Pirks on 7/7/09, Rating: -1
RE: $1,000,000,000.00 worth of Macs?
By themaster08 on 7/8/2009 7:00:06 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Being productive != being gigahetz hunter

Being productive = looking for value for money for whatever they need a computer for.

If an Apple product doesn't fit into that category (which it doesn't for the vast majority) then that doesn't mean they're on welfare.

That makes them smart thinkers for considering their own needs.

quote:
Gigahertz hunters are pretty slow thinkers.

As opposed to Apple hunters who are typically non-thinkers. They see something that looks appealing from an aesthetical point of view, and base their purchase on that. No thinking required.

That's alright though, I have nothing against people who purchase something because it looks aesthetically pleasing, but I think you need to understand that those looking for productivity will see the MacBook as non-beneficial as it's price point.


By themaster08 on 7/8/2009 6:31:59 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
"Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment -- same piece of hardware -- paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be." -- Steve Ballmer

I guess Steve Ballmer must be on welfare too.


Jobs?
By Hakuryu on 7/6/2009 4:14:06 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Catawba County is currently plagued by double-digit unemployment, so it's possible thousands of jobs could be created at the new facility.


I had no idea a rural county with high unemployment harbored so many tech experts. Isn't it more likely they would get blue colllar jobs and the tech stuff would be handled off-site or by highly trained people that did not live in the area?

Does a data center really have 'thousands' of jobs to begin with? Every picture I've ever seen of a server farm shows long rows of servers with a small booth where a couple of people are watching over screens, sometimes with one guy doing some maintenance on a rack.

Just curious about that 'thousands' of jobs statement...any truth to that for the citizens that live there?




RE: Jobs?
By Pirks on 7/6/2009 4:22:24 PM , Rating: 2
Maybe they mean thousands of construction related jobs? You don't have to have bachelor's to operate a shovel or a jackhammer.


RE: Jobs?
By mlambert on 7/6/2009 4:28:48 PM , Rating: 2
Maybe 100 jobs, including construction and services, unless they put offices on site and move over a couple thousand AAPL employees. Doubtful, even though it is a very nice area with a ton of good tech talent not toooo far away (Raleigh).


RE: Jobs?
By ctodd on 7/6/2009 4:49:55 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah, you're probably close on the number at the facility, but you forgot to include the local economy's boost from additional revenue and taxes. The new jobs don't have to be within the complex itself, but in the surrounding communities. Whenever companies invest in areas like this, the politicians tend to inflate the numbers so that it doesn't seem so bad when they're forced to tell their constituents how much they paid the company to come to their town.


RE: Jobs?
By gamefreak32 on 7/6/2009 10:56:33 PM , Rating: 2
The initial number of people that Apple is supposed to hire is between 50 and 100 and they are supposed to max out at 250 jobs. The state government and the Catawba County government are speculating that there will be another 3,000 jobs created in the surrounding community. 3,000 jobs is extremely wishful thinking for any major city, much less a "rural" area like Catawba County. I doubt anyone in Maiden will even qualify for most of the jobs at Apple and wouldn't be surprised if Apple tries to draw their employees from Charlotte or the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area.


RE: Jobs?
By ThisSpaceForRent on 7/6/2009 7:13:43 PM , Rating: 2
They thought it was an apple farm, not a server farm.


RE: Jobs?
By amandahugnkiss on 7/6/2009 7:37:58 PM , Rating: 2
ah, so it's an orchard...


iPhone
By BoyBawang on 7/6/2009 3:57:48 PM , Rating: 2
I think this is for iPhones "Push Notification"




RE: iPhone
By weskurtz0081 on 7/6/2009 4:06:25 PM , Rating: 2
Wouldn't that be more of a carrier thing than a "manufacturer" thing. And, I use the word "manufacturer" loosely, since Apple is really more of a designer than a manufacturer.


RE: iPhone
By weskurtz0081 on 7/6/2009 4:13:24 PM , Rating: 2
Sorry, shouldn't have said carrier, more like mailing system IE. Exchange/Gmail etc. So, Apple would either have to setup a special service for pushing emails, or just do push emailing for people with Apple addresses? The latter I bet.


may as well be malaysia
By shinpickle on 7/6/09, Rating: 0
RE: may as well be malaysia
By grandpope on 7/6/2009 4:36:20 PM , Rating: 2
I think if they could spin a data center in Malaysia the same way they did for this one, it would have happened already.


RE: may as well be malaysia
By Smilin on 7/6/2009 4:55:04 PM , Rating: 2
Yes they should have clearly opened up shop exactly where some other shop had failed. We call that the formula for success!


thankfully...
By kattanna on 7/6/2009 3:52:35 PM , Rating: 2
thankfully it will not be filled with MAC G4 servers.. else i would be able to hear that data center all the way over here in california.




By mmcdonalataocdotgov on 7/7/2009 7:08:51 AM , Rating: 2
Ya see, cause they're way over priced! Okay, only 80% of you are laughing... oh, I get it.




"Well, we didn't have anyone in line that got shot waiting for our system." -- Nintendo of America Vice President Perrin Kaplan











botimage
Copyright 2010 DailyTech LLC. - RSS Feed | Advertise | About Us | Ethics | FAQ | Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information | Kristopher Kubicki