BY JOE OLENICK
TOWN OF LOCKPORT — Hello Lockport, meet your new neighbor.
Internet giant Yahoo! broke ground Wednesday morning on its $150 million East Coast data center in the Town of Lockport.
Just before the shovels went into the ground, David Dibble, Yahoo! executive vice president of services for engineering and operations, said the center will be one of the most advanced and energy efficient offices in the world.
“It breaks all the records, this will be a very important site,” Dibble said.
Supervisor Marc Smith called the arrival of Yahoo! a wonderful opportunity for Lockport, adding the company also was excited about it. He called Yahoo! a company that wants to participate in the community, referring to them as Western New Yorkers.
“We’re just so happy that they’re here,” Smith said.
Dibble said Smith’s comment about Yahoo! being Western New Yorkers was the highest compliment paid to the company he has heard in some time. Dibble’s family is from Chautauqua County.
“That’s the highest praise that could be heaped upon us, and I hope we really live up to what Western New York is,” Dibble said.
Local leaders cheered the arrival of Yahoo! Rep. Chris Lee, R-Clarence, said the speed in which the Yahoo! deal was finished was impressive and necessary.
“In the private sector, when an opportunity arises, you’ve got to move quickly,” Lee said.
Yahoo! purchased 30 acres of land at Junction Road from the Town of Lockport Industrial Development Agency for $450,000 and a 20-year property tax break. The break includes a 100 percent tax exemption for the first 10 years.
State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, said both past and current town officials deserve credit for the arrival of the Yahoo! data center.
“The Lockport Town Board over the years, investing in the infrastructure of this park, is what made it possible for Yahoo! to make the decision,” Maziarz said.
What initially drew Yahoo! to Western New York was electric power, Dibble said. The agreement with the New York Power Authority for low cost hydroelectric power was a major draw. NYPA will supply Yahoo! with 15 megawatts, vital because the data center will consume a huge amount of power. But what drew Yahoo! to Lockport?
“What got us to Lockport specifically was the values of the people who reside in this region being consistent with the values of Yahoo! as a company,” Dibble said. “And having the confidence that Yahoo! can get involved with the community of Lockport and the Western New York region in general for a long time and establish a mutually beneficial relationship. This is a whole lot more than a slab and four walls and a whole bunch of power. This is about Yahoo! coming into a community and investing in that community.”
Construction will begin next week and the foundation work will begin next month. The center will bring at least 75 jobs to Lockport is expected to open in September 2010.
Contact reporter Joe Olenick
at 439-9222, ext. 6241.
