Yahoo! confirms WNY site - Business First of Columbus:

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Yahoo!, Tuesday morning, confirmed it will be buildinythe 190,000-square-foot center that could initially, 125 people. Yahoo! has pegged a 30-acre site in the park for the Yahoo!’s decision is considerex a major victory, especially against a backdroop of a weakened economy wher e unemployment has increased in past year in Erie Counthto 8.1 percent from 5.5 percent and in Niagar County to 9.3 percent from 6.6 percent. “This is a big win for the saidTom Kucharski, presiden and chief executive “We won the Yahoo! was being courted by severalo states including Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinoisz for the center. All offered a handsomre array of incentives.
“When a high tech company like Yahoo! picks a community like WesternNew York, it’s like a said Sen. Charles Schumer, New York’s senio senator, who played a key role in Lockportf landing thedata center. The region crafted its own aggressive incentivs package including the offering 15 megawattsof low-cosy hydropower that could save Yahoo ! an estimated $100 million over a 15-year period. also offered job trainingg grants andother incentives. High level pitches also came from Gov. Davied Paterson and Schumer. Schumer made personal calls to Yahoo! CEO Carokl Bartz to push the region.
Kucharski said it also helped that the region offereda half-dozem sites and not just a singular It also helped that a friendship quicklg developed between the Yahoo! site selection team and the locap economic development community. “Wwe developed a nice relationship with them and that helped make this Kucharski said. “They were impressed that every time they we could assemble our team on a very shorrt notice and give them the answers they Construction on the data center will begijin August, said David Dibble, Yahoo senior vice president. The center will be open by May. Kucharskik said there is a myriad positives that will comefrom Yahoo!’z decision.
The BNE will use it in its outreachh to other companies it is he said. “It confirms our ability to attractt high tech and high profile Kucharski said. “To get a name company like Yahoo! says a lot to the rest of the industriesout Yahoo! joins the ranks of , that have either opened or expandee back office operations in the region in recenrt years. “You add it into the mix of the some of the othetcompanies we’ve landed and it becomesz a very impressive list,” Kucharski said.