NEWS RELEASE – November 16, 2009

Chatham-Kent Utility Services (CKUS) has broken ground on a new Green Data Centre to provide information technology (IT) services, products and training to local businesses. The $2.5 million project is expected to be up and running by next summer.

The centre will be located on CKUS property at 320 Queen Street in Chatham. Construction of the facility will be fully funded by CKUS and will have clients paying market based rates for data centre services.

“This project will greatly enhance economic development in Chatham-Kent,” said Tomo Matesic, President of Chatham-Kent Utility Services. “It will help to expand and transform the knowledge-based economy in Chatham-Kent, providing small and medium sized businesses with economically priced services and new employment opportunities.”

At capacity the Data Centre is expected to create 10-15 new permanent full time positions and support the creation of 20-30 technology related jobs in Chatham-Kent. At its peak, the 6-8 month construction program will employ approximately 30 local tradesmen.

With the introduction of fibre based services to Chatham-Kent, Chatham-Kent Utility Services has a significant opportunity to expand its services to include hosting of data and related IT services. Many industries are requiring more and more data processing to drive their business, including government agencies, oil and gas exploration, financial services, life sciences, entertainment, education, and others. At a time when many corporations are greatly burdened by the substantial cost and environmental challenges associated with information technology, Chatham-Kent’s new Data Centre is being built as a certified “green” facility with a goal to be the first LEED certified, publically available Data Centre in Canada.

The Data Centre, and its mechanical, lighting, electrical and computer systems have been designed to be energy efficient, environmentally friendly and a low carbon footprint utilizing low-emission building materials, sustainable landscaping, waste recycling, power management and green energy generation in the form of solar power.
“In the information technology business, significant cost savings and increased business efficiency can be found by consolidating the technology and managing it in an environmentally sound and sustainable way,” said Matesic.