M.A. Andrews
Thursday, November 18, 2010 10:10 am

   To everyone in Rutherford County, it was a momentous occasion. The answer to prayers and hopes! A major corporation, Facebook, will build a multi million dollar data center just on Route 74 in Forest City (the former Mako Marine site). Facebook is the leading social networking service connecting more than 500 million people, worldwide.

   Here’s the great news! The project will create more than 250 construction and mechanical jobs during its 18 month construction. When completed the data center will create 35 to 45 full time plus contract workers. The investment in this data center in Rutherford County will be approximately $450 million dollars. The future may also hold additional construction phases depending on business needs.

   Governor Perdue said the state has been working with Facebook’s representatives for about a year to help make the project a reality. North Carolina is emerging as a most desirable location for data center projects. Already in the state are data centers by Apple, Google, and IBM.

   Rutherford County own, Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton proposed a toast at the ground breaking for the new Facebook facility. He said, “Here’s a toast to the people and resources that make North Carolina and Rutherford County such a great place be. And to ‘new friends’ who make our community even stronger and more connected.” Dalton said it was a combination of great people and a great location and repeatedly called this accomplishment a “game changer”.

   The fact that after a rigorous search, Facebook choose North Carolina and, in particular, Rutherford County is a big plus for this job hungry county. With the attention being given by others, this could be the beginning of a magnificent resurgence so desirable and needed by Rutherford County citizens. Data center and high tech companies could be to Rutherford County what the textile mills once were.

   Hopefully this is just the beginning of more great news, more good things, and more jobs to come!