Area Development
Rackspace Hosting, an open cloud company, is expanding its IT hosting operation at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Montgomery County, Virginia. The project, which should provide capacity for more than 100 workers, will result in a $5.5 million investment in building construction and improvements.

"The pool of critical technical talent provided by Virginia Tech, Radford, the University of Virginia, and James Madison University has helped the Blacksburg office grow into a large Rackspace development center," said Robert McAden, Rackspace business operations manager. The Blacksburg area is a top ranking place for outdoor enthusiasts and place to raise a family. Both of these traits are important factors in recruiting experienced talent and making our decision easy to invest in growing our Blacksburg operations."

Gov. Bob McDonnell said, "Virginia remains one of the most active data markets in the country, and Rackspace's Montgomery County cloud computing operation is thriving. The Commonwealth is a prime location for data centers, offering companies both an advanced broadband infrastructure and a highly skilled technical workforce. I look forward to Rackspace's continued growth and the creation of new high-tech jobs for the New River Valley region."

"Rackspace is one of more than 700 data processing, hosting and related establishments located in Virginia," said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. "Employing more than 11,000 Virginians, the data center industry is booming, and Rackspace's expansion is a great testament to this growth. Montgomery County is a great fit for the company, providing the right business environment and a pipeline of skilled employees ready to work."

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development and the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center to secure the project for Virginia. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company's recruitment, training and retraining activities.