Workers Cheer Facebook Prineville Expansion
Central Oregon’s economy is about to get a boost. Facebook officials announced the expansion of their already enormous Prineville Data Center and plan to start construction on a second building in October. On Wednesday, crews said they are ready for more work.
More construction jobs is one thing, but the data center expansion is a big boost for Central Oregon’s economy as a whole. Local crew members are keeping jobs, more full-time positions are available, and people are moving to Central Oregon and planning to stay.
“There are so many people back in the Valley that aren’t working,” said crew member Steve Potts of Bend. “We’re the people that are usually not working. We’re really excited that we get to stay out here.”
As the Facebook phenomenon continues to build (at 750 million users and counting), the need for more server space grows. The new addition means adding over 300,000 square feet, and that takes a lot of manpower.
“I’ve had to do a lot of traveling living in Central Oregon,” said Potts. “I’ve been to Portland and the Salem state hospital, and when we got this job here at Facebook, it was a dream come true. Every night, we go home to our families.”
Potts said they have exhausted their union hall, filling the construction site up with tons of locals.
“Being away from my family is very complicated for me,” said Jonathon Murders of Redmond. “This is a Godsend for this community, to have work right here in our own home.”
While there are lots of Central Oregonians on the construction site, many people from out of state have moved into town to help with the job, too.
“The simple fact of the mater is, if you’re not from here, you’re staying here,” said Operations Manager Ken Patchett. “You’re eating in these restaurants, you’re living in these hotels and you’re forming bonds and friendships.”
More than 1,400 people have worked on the site so far, employing 54 full-time people at the data center. Ten more full time positions will be added to run the new building. Many new workers starting out in their careers say they’re ready to make Prineville their home.
“I’ll stay here as long as I can,” said Isaiah Napier of Washington state. “I love Prineville. The weather is nice, I haven’t seen this much sun in a long time.”
“I’ll hopefully be down here for the long run,” said Brain Anderson, another Washington resident. “I really like it.”
Facebook needs the new space because users of the social networking site has jumped from 350 million users about two years ago to 750 million users and growing.
