DailyTech - Apple to Build $1B Server Farm in North Carolina

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IT Apple to Build $1B Server Farm in North Carolina
Michael Barkoviak - July 6, 2009 3:47 PM

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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