Yahoo! to build data center in Lockport

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) - Great news is headed for Niagara County now that Internet giant Yahoo! is officially coming to Lockport.

The big announcement signals a big re-boot for the local job market.

With an 'ay' vote, the welcome mat is rolling out for Yahoo!

The Internet search engine company announced it will be opening a data center in the Town of Lockport, in the Industrial Park.

Yahoo! Senior Vice President David Dibble said, "We're very excited to get the project off the ground, and as we have proven in towns all over the globe, Yahoo! is a great corporate citizen."

The company is based out of California, but needed to build an east coast regional data center and chose Lockport. The town is chipping in tax breaks and other incentives, and the New York Power Authority will be sweetening the pot.

Governor David Paterson said, "We will begin by having the NYPA invest ten megawatts of energy into this facility in the first phase."

The 191,000 square foot building will have a green design. The company's other facilities have used the same energy efficiency model, using less power and water.

Dibble said, "It's fair to say that our new facility will be one of the most environmentally efficient data centers on the planet."

Yahoo! plans to break ground in August and company officials say that the building should be complete and fully operational by next May.

They'll be looking to hire around 125 positions of all skill levels. When News 4 hears about where and when you can apply, we'll let you know.

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We've been hearing about it for weeks, and now it's a done deal. Internet giant Yahoo! is moving to Lockport, and bringing with it dozens of high-paying jobs.

It's been talked about for a few weeks now and Tuesday, company officials made it official. Yahoo! is coming to western New York and they're looking for people who are looking for a job.

Senator Charles Schumer said, "What are we talking about here? A four letter word; J-O-B-S, jobs."

There will be over 75 jobs in Lockport alone, from entry level to senior management.

With salaries ranging from $65-75,000 a year, the company is bound to attract a lot of applicants in western New York.

Yahoo! Senior Director of Engineering Scott Noteboom said, "We're actually getting more productivity out of employees in areas like this. Why? Because I think they can have a happier family life, afford to buy a nice house."

The company is based out of California, but needed to build an east coast regional data center and chose Lockport. The town is chipping in tax breaks and other incentives, and the New York Power Authority will be sweetening the pot, offering ten megawatts of power in the first phase.

Governor David Paterson took a break from the chaos in Albany to address the good news for western New York.

Governor Paterson said, "My number one priority as governor is to revitalize our economy, and put New Yorkers back to work and also to create jobs."

The 191,000 square foot building will have a green design. The companies other facilites have used the same energy efficiency model, using less power and water.

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News 4 has learned Yahoo! has selected the Town of Lockport for a new $150 million dollar data center.

Yahoo! says New York State and the greater Buffalo area posses the resources needed to run a world class data center. It sites New York Hydropower at competitive rates, diversity in sites, a strong educated work force and aggressive economic development.

Officials say Yahoo!’s commitment to western New York is a catalyst for the area’s future economic development.

Construction of Phase 1 is expected to bring 75 permanent jobs, with salaries ranging from $65,000 to $75,000 per year. Ground breaking is expected to begin in August, pending Planning Board approval this afternoon in the Town of Lockport. Yahoo! expects the data center to be fully operational by May 2010.

We will keep you updated right here on WIVB.com.