Gov. Kay Ivey (R-AL) announced on Monday that AUBix LLC plans to open a state-of-the-art, $ 120 million data center in Auburn that will benefit communities in Alabama by providing a technological edge to businesses and individuals. as well as high speed internet access.

Construction has started on the company’s new 40,000 square foot facility on Samford Avenue, just outside the Auburn University campus.

The governor praised the investment and the collaborative effort of the project.

“This investment is proof that Alabama continues to develop its high-tech footprint and the innovative capacity of its economy,” said Ivey. “I would like to congratulate the Auburn team on the success of this project. Our data shows strong job growth in various parts of the state, and I am excited about these opportunities for our citizens across Alabama. “

AUBix LLC, a company founded by Auburn businessmen, will build and operate the secure and compliant multi-tenant data center. The release said the facility is designed to bring technology parity to underserved communities across the state.

AUBix CEO and co-founder Andrew Albrecht believes the data center will drive economic growth throughout Yellowhammer state.

“Our goal is to provide customers with a secure and compliant infrastructure to host Internet applications locally, as well as significantly higher Internet speeds and the choice of national / global carriers who compete for their business,” said Albrecht. “In turn, this will attract new businesses to the state, support all levels of academic and research initiatives, and add value to the communities we serve.”

AUBix is ​​expected to become an economic catalyst for the regions and communities it serves, enabling the digital transformation of businesses, supporting academic research and development, and providing high-speed internet access.

Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield views the data center as vital infrastructure.

“The state-of-the-art AUBix data center in Auburn will maximize growth opportunities for businesses in many areas of Alabama by meeting their critical competitive need for reliable broadband service,” said Greg Canfield , secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “By improving the information technology infrastructure in our state, this facility will provide a spark for the future. “

According to the statement, one of the main benefits AUBix will bring to businesses is increased access to global Internet exchanges through multiple high-speed fiber optic networks. AUBix will become an Internet exchange point for existing network service providers in the region, enabling them to take advantage of their regional and global high-speed networks and improve the performance of Internet applications.

“The additional capacity and services that AUBix will bring to local businesses and educational institutions are as revolutionary as it was when Interstate 85 was built in the 1960s,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “Auburn will now be able to better serve IT-related businesses and, with that, bring desirable, knowledge-based, well-paying jobs to Auburn. On top of that, the significant income this project will bring will greatly benefit our school system, which we all appreciate. I am grateful for the trust and investment of the owners and their partners in our community.

AUBix tenants will benefit from an infrastructure that exceeds industry standards, rules and regulations for cybersecurity, healthcare and financial services. AUBix will deliver 22,000 square feet of available data center space and over 3 megawatts of critical power capacity in two data rooms with redundant power and cooling. The initial 40,000 square foot construction includes offices for clients, conference rooms and equipment storage for tenants.

Alabama Power Company will provide critical power to the Auburn data center and has a long history of supporting the creation of data centers as part of its economic development strategy in Alabama.

The power company hailed the project as crucial for future economic development efforts.

“Technology resources and connectivity are essential to our customers and businesses in our state,” said Jeff Peoples, executive vice president of customer and employee services at Alabama Power. “Having the technological infrastructure that AUBix will provide strengthens Alabama’s competitive advantage. We are proud to support economic and community development projects that attract new businesses to our state and help them thrive.

Dylan Smith is a writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL