Yahoo! considering Genesee County as possible location for new data center

Posted by Howard Owens on May 11, 2009 - 7:04am

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Genesee County is apparently on the short list of potential locations for a new data center for Internet giant Yahoo!, according to the Buffalo News.

If Yahoo! located the center in Genesee County -- or Orleans -- the new facility would generate only 50 to 100 jobs, but it might spur new high-tech growth in the region, according to the article.

Yahoo likes the region for three reasons, Schumer said.

It has a well-educated labor force. And because the data center would house computer systems and other equipment, the company likes the cooler climate, Schumer said.

"In this case, our cool Western New York temperature benefits us," Schumer said.

The company also needs a good supply of electricity, and it prefers clean energy, the senator said.

Of course, when Google was looking at WNY for a data center, it couldn't come to an agreement with NYPA on electricity for the facility.

Howard Owens
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Posted by Bea McManis on May 11, 2009 - 11:08am

I hope they find a home here. It will open the gate to others to follow.
Having worked for a rival of Yahoo, I was interested in the information about the company.
If they come to Genesee County, their values will be welcomed:
Company Values from http://www.yahoo.com:
Excellence:
We are committed to winning with integrity. We know leadership is hard won and should never be taken for granted. We aspire to flawless execution and don't take shortcuts on quality. We seek the best talent and promote its development. We are flexible and learn from our mistakes. Teamwork:
We treat one another with respect and communicate openly. We foster collaboration while maintaining individual accountability. We encourage the best ideas to surface from anywhere within the organization. We appreciate the value of multiple perspectives and diverse expertise.
Innovation:
We thrive on creativity and ingenuity. We seek the innovations and ideas that can change the world. We anticipate market trends and move quickly to embrace them. We are not afraid to take informed, responsible risk.
Community:
We share an infectious sense of mission to make an impact on society and empower consumers in ways never before possible. We are committed to serving both the Internet community and our own communities.
Customer Fixation:
We respect our customers above all else and never forget that they come to us by choice. We share a personal responsibility to maintain our customers' loyalty and trust. We listen and respond to our customers and seek to exceed their expectations.
Fun:
We believe humor is essential to success. We applaud irreverence and don't take ourselves too seriously. We celebrate achievement. We yodel.

But, knowing the mindset of west coast dot coms, I wonder if Genesee County is ready for what Yahoo doesn't value:
Bureaucracy
Entitlement
Broken links
Too big for your britches
Ho-hum
All work, no fooz
Decaf
ALL CAPS
Losing
Closed doors
Good enough
Same ol' same ol'
Boring
Vaporware
Arrogance
20/20 hindsight
A stick in the eye
Fads
Discrimination
Swashbuckling
Status quo
Early meetings (this comes from the long commute in the morning. They don't know the meaning of an early morning meeting.)
A cog in the wheel
Missing the boat
Formality
Behind the curve
Bugs
Head in the sand
Irrelevance
Following
Sloth
Bad apples
CD-ROMs in the mail
High horses
Pop-ups
Impossible
Quick fix
One size fits all
Passing the buck
Playing catchup
Shoes worn at all times (where I worked, you could tell what job a person had by their footwear, and/or lack of)
Yesterday's news
Micromanaging
All bark
90% Spam
Additives & preservatives
Shoulda Coulda Woulda
Hurry up & wait
Typos
Bad grammar
Rear view mirror
Monday morning quarterback
Punching the clock

Posted by Karen Miconi on May 11, 2009 - 11:18am

I just hope their is no hidden cost for having them operate in Genesee County. We don't need anymore financial burdens. I use Yahoo, and have for years. I've never had any problems. They are probably a multi-million dollar company, and are self sufficiant. I say why not.

Posted by Peter O'Brien on May 11, 2009 - 11:26am

I say no simply because I don't trust Chuck U Schumer not to have his grubby hands out expecting a big donation and favors for this.

Posted by Bea McManis on May 11, 2009 - 11:43am

If we say "no" to every new business opportunity because we fear a real or perceived kickback to a politician then Genesee County might just as well put up a fence around our borders and tell the outside business community that we just aren't interested.
I've always believed that our area could be the next Silicon Valley.
While I understand your concern, I can't fathom not entertaining the possiblity of new ventures.

Posted by Peter O'Brien on May 11, 2009 - 12:00pm

If they want to come here, Schumer doesn't need to get involved.

Posted by Bea McManis on May 11, 2009 - 1:11pm

Posted by Peter O'Brien about 52 minutes ago
If they want to come here, Schumer doesn't need to get involved.

Who should? If it were a Republican politician would you have been more favorable?
Sorry, I'm not getting into partisan politics. I'm more interested in seeing REAL enterprise come to Genesee County than I am at getting involved in political sniping.
If any politician (regardless of party) can help ease the way of a business coming here, I'm all for it.

Posted by Peter O'Brien on May 11, 2009 - 1:16pm

No, no federal representative should be involved, just local zoning boards.

Posted by Bea McManis on May 11, 2009 - 2:00pm

So, forgive me for not knowing, is that all a business the size of Yahoo has to do to get started in Genesee Co.?
The only red tape is to get through the paperwork with the zoning board?

Posted by Peter O'Brien on May 11, 2009 - 4:51pm

That's all it should need. We are talking hypotheticals since Chuck U is involved.