NEWSROOM RELEASES

City of Westerville and Otterbein College Partner on Business & Education Innovation Center

Utilizing Services from Regionally Based IT Consulting Firm and partner Ad Agency to Execute Build-Out and Marketing Initiatives

March 24, 2010 (Westerville, OH) – Westerville City Council considered the development and construction of a Business & Education Innovation Center, the first component in a partnership with Otterbein College. Paired with the expansion of the City’s existing conduit and fiber infrastructure, this initiative represents local partnership support for building infrastructure to support economic sustainability and growth, as well as strengthen technology assets available to residents and community partners in Westerville.

In partnership with Otterbein College, the initiative features a data center designed to provide new-generation business support, state-of-the-art facilities and world-class security. Its primary operation will initially fulfill the City’s needs for data center space, disaster recovery (connection to commercial data centers), foundational infrastructure for advanced metering (energy efficiency) and enhanced public safety operations. Externally, community partners, including Otterbein and the Westerville business community, will have access to data center space (co-location), affordable broadband and managed services, as well as cloud-based services (delivery of hosted solutions via the Internet).

“We are excited to form this progressive partnership and collaborate with the City of Westerville to benefit the tech support, educational opportunity, innovation and growth for our community,” said Otterbein President Kathy Krendl. “Not only will the community of Westerville benefit from the innovations created through an entrepreneurial environment, but so will the world with our research efforts in medical, health care, banking and technical areas for example.”

The Center provides expanded capacity for future data storage and network needs, and also provides technology solutions for businesses that enable them to deliver products and services electronically, as well as access new workforce and social media technologies including virtualization, cloud computing (including a community cloud for Westerville businesses) and Web 2.0 social computing.

Also aiding in the development, management, and future promotion of the project are Youngstown-based DRS, and partner Advertising Agency PALO Creative. DRS, a regional provider of Data Center design and operation services has worked with the City since the beginning of the center’s planning stages to ensure the best and most effective approach to the project. PALO Creative, a subsidiary of DRS, is located in Leetonia, and has been involved with providing some initial strategic marketing. Together, the group will be supporting efforts to build initial interest from partners, residents and community members alike. The companies will continue to support the City with its data center initiative throughout its implementation, as well as, ongoing operations.

“The City-run Data Center in Westerville will be the first of its kind,” says Mike Meloy, President, DRS LLC. “We’re very happy to be involved and providing our expertise to the City for this innovative project.”

A future component still under development is the establishment of a business incubator, which would support entrepreneurship, student training and job creation in emerging industries. Through the provision of shared space and services, the incubator would seek to create an environment attractive to startups and high-growth companies by providing business and data services, mentoring and social networking, and access to resources in order to foster innovative thought.

“This partnership and all its elements create another community asset. Together we are using technology to build an ecosystem to attract and retain companies and grow jobs, as well as strengthen the social fabric of the community,” said David Collinsworth, City Manager for the City of Westerville.

In addition to the advantage this brings to local economic development, Collinsworth says communities that support this technology accelerate the capabilities of the businesses in their communities. They also become a strategic contributor to business that benefits economic, social, and technical capabilities of the community as a whole.

“With a community data center, Westerville can take new strides with our fiber infrastructure. These initiatives make Westerville a launch pad for industry and commerce, enhancing the attractiveness of the community and the region,” said Collinsworth.

“There are still many details to work on,” said Krendl. “We are looking forward to this innovative opportunity in Westerville and on our campus. We are pleased to share our facility, staff and students toward such a collaborative endeavor and innovative project.”

The site under consideration for the Center is 60 Collegeview Rd. on the Otterbein College campus.

Over the next six months, the City will continue to refine the business model for the incubator in conjunction with Otterbein College. A final business plan will be presented to City Council this summer.

For more information on the City of Westerville, please visit www.westerville.org or contact the Community Affairs Administrator, Christa Dickey at 614-901-6411 or Christa.Dickey@westerville.org.