Involta Expands With Ohio Data Center

Iowa-based data center provider Involta, LLC will expand into Ohio. The company said today that it will build and operate a 46,000 square foot enterprise data center in Akron, Ohio, which it expects to be operational by fourth quarter of 2011.

Local officials hailed the $20 million project, which will rise on a site that was once a ceramics manufacturer and a lumberyard. "Almost ten years ago, the lumber yard here closed and opportunity left this place," said Phio Gov. Ted Strickland. "But today opportunity is returning. Involta's decision to build their state of the art data center here means dozens of new, good paying technology jobs for the south side of Akron. The kind of jobs that pay a mortgage, support a family and give people the chance to build a foundation for their lives."

The Involta data center, which is the company's fourth facility, is expected to create 60 technology jobs in addition to offering more colocation options for Akron-area businesses. "By colocating, businesses can have the advantages of a data center while actually cutting costs," said Bruce Lehrman, the CEO of Involta. "Use of this data center will allow business leaders to focus on their core businesses rather than complex infrastructure and facilities issues."

"The data center will mean more network connectivity and more technology infrastructure in Akron," said Involta Chairman, Lonnie Bloomquist. "The Involta Data Center will further enhance the Greater Akron landscape as a more attractive location for technology and telecommunication based companies.  Colocation data centers attract other technology based companies in need of critical infrastructure support and protection as well as network connectivity."

The Involta facility will be designed to receive certification under the LEED ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program, a voluntary rating system for energy efficient buildings overseen by the US Green Building Council.

"The new Involta facility will be world-class, efficient, green and positioned to deliver highly secure and reliable IT infrastructure to businesses throughout the region," said Tad Davies, EVP of Bick Group of St. Louis, which is  providing design-build services for the project.

Founded in 2007, Involta was ranked 40th on the 2010 Inc 500 list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States and is a recognized and preeminent provider of data center facilities and technology services in the Central United States.