As part of Botetourt County’s broadband expansion efforts, it will partner with the Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority to build a data center in the Greenfield Education & Training Center in Daleville. Organizations use data centers to store and back up their computer systems and components to ensure their continuous operation in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

Michael Lockaby, who serves as Botetourt County Attorney, considers the project to be an exciting opportunity for the Roanoke region and a milestone for municipal broadband in Virginia. While it is common for large companies to have their own data centers or for large telecom companies to have joint data centers, this appears to be the first municipally-owned and operated data center in the Commonwealth.

The new data center will provide more reliability and efficiency to local companies, and as a “network-neutral” facility, it will allow multiple telecommunication companies to operate from it and encourage competition, leading to better service and lower prices in the Roanoke Valley. Mike worked with Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe, Economic Development Director Ken McFadyen, and EDA Attorney Webster Day on negotiations for the project with Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority CEO Frank Smith, COO Joan Moore, and RVBA’s general counsel, Sam Darby.

For more information, please visit The Roanoke Times.