OITA's friend Adam Frumkin, MBA, CGCIO, PMP, Prosci has been named in StateScoop's GoldenGov: County Executive of the Year category. Check out Adam's notable innovation – including "Cultural change through emotional intelligence" and team building for the future. Congrats, Adam and Ohio for the accomplishments!
See more ... Meet the 2021 GoldenGov: County executive of the Year winners
Executives of a North Canton, Ohio, software company are moving quickly to outfit a $23.1 million cryptocurrency mining operation in Akron with the computers needed to do the job. See more at ... Crypto-mining execs moving quickly to invest in Akron, improve city's electrical infrastructure
A cashier-less Starbucks?! What are your thoughts on the new innovations being introduced by businesses like Starbucks and Amazon Go?
See more ... Starbucks opens its first cashierless locagion in New York City, in collaboration with Amazon Go
CINCINNATI, OHIO October 25, 2021 – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted along with leaders of the Cincinnati Innovation District (CID) and JobsOhio announced today the expansion of the CID. See more at ... Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted Join the Cincinnati Innovation District, JobsOhio and REDI to Unveil District Expansion as Lightship Foundation Announces New Headquarters, Accelerating Minority-Led Business Attraction to Ohio
Cardinal Health Inc. plans to test drone delivery to a pharmacy customer with San Francisco-area unicorn Zipline Inc.
The aim is to improve to-the-second precision of deliveries, especially for urgent orders of medications and supplies, but the autonomous aircraft also can bring cost savings compared with trucking, a Cardinal spokesman said. In recent years the Dublin-based healthcare giant has made large investments in software to increase end-to-end visibility in its distribution network. See more ... Cardinal Health partnering with San Francisco unicorn on drone delivery pilot program
OITA President Nick York spoke on Spectrum News 1 OH. Nick and Ohio News Network's Mike Kallmeyer discussed the changing workforce in the wake of the pandemic– including retention, innovation, and what's next for the tech community. Check out their conversation HERE.
Let us know your thoughts on the changing tech hiring and working landscape.
COLUMBUS (WCMH) – During a news conference Tuesday previewing highlights of the city’s upcoming budget, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said the Alternative Response Program has been a success.
So what is the program and how is it making a difference in Columbus?
The pilot program, which started in June, is set to receive $5 million in city funding, according to the mayor’s proposed budget.
See more ... Columbus Alternative Response Program successful in addressing 911 calls, city proposes more funding
The COVID-19 pandemic sped digital transformation across state governments, and many of the innovations will continue into the future, agreed state CIOs at the annual conference of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers on Monday. See more at ... NASCIO 2021: State CIO Survey Details Tech Priorities Post-Pandemic
Researchers at Iowa State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are leading a new effort to improve the cybersecurity of the electrical grid in nine Midwestern states, as part of a program supported by the National Security Agency. See more ... Midwest's grid security to get boost from NSA-backed research group
GOOGLE TO MAKE $1+ BILLION TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT IN NEW ALBANY
Google purchases new sites in Columbus and Lancaster for potential future data centers, announces Google Cloud region to support businesses across industries
NEW ALBANY (August 19, 2021) — Today, Google announced a commitment to invest an additional $1 billion to substantially expand its existing data center site in New Albany, Ohio. The company also announced it has acquired an additional 618 acres of land in Columbus and Lancaster, Ohio, for potential future data center locations, bringing its total to over 1,000 acres in the region.
“I’m excited that Google will invest an additional $1 billion to triple the size of its data center currently under construction in New Albany. In addition, Google has acquired over 600 acres of land in Columbus and Lancaster for future investments. Central Ohio has the land, resources, energy infrastructure, and talented workforce required to make these investments possible. I welcome this great news for Ohio,” said United States Senator Rob Portman.
“We are delighted that Google Cloud has committed to expanding its presence in Ohio, further solidifying the state’s position as one of the country’s leading destinations for cloud technology investment,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Google Cloud is choosing to expand here yet again, continuing a growth trend of cloud computing investments that we are seeing throughout Ohio.”
Google data centers power products like Search, Gmail, and YouTube for people around the world, helping keep the internet humming 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To meet rising demand, the company will invest an additional $1 billion to triple the size of its existing New Albany data center facility, which officially broke ground in 2019 and is already in operation. Additionally, Google has acquired two parcels of land in Columbus and Lancaster for future potential development as data center facilities.
To support its growing enterprise customer base, Google also announced a Google Cloud region coming to Columbus, to complement its existing network of seven cloud regions nationally and 27 globally. Cloud regions provide faster service in a given location so Google Cloud Platform enterprise customers can deliver digital services to their own users more reliably and at higher speeds. When the Columbus cloud region is operational, local organizations across industries — like retail, manufacturing, financial services and public sector — will have faster access to secure infrastructure, smart analytics tools and an open platform, all on the cleanest cloud in the industry.
“We’re proud to be an Ohio company and excited about the opportunity to continue our growth in the state,” said Reginald Mcknight, Google’s Regional Head of External Affairs & Community Development. “With its business-friendly environment, central location, and skilled workforce, we’re excited to be part of the thriving community that is continuing to chart a new path for Ohio’s economy.”
“New Albany welcomed Google’s first Ohio data center in 2019, and has seen the positive impact Google has on our local economy. We are thrilled to see Google continue to invest and grow in our community,“ said New Albany Mayor Sloan Spalding.
Today’s investments build upon existing contributions across the state. In 2020, Google helped generate $9.63 billion of economic activity for 51,900 Ohio businesses, nonprofits, publishers, creators and developers in the state. The company also assisted more than 541,000 Ohio businesses with requests for directions, phone calls, bookings, reviews and other direct connections to their customers.
Google.org has awarded more than $1M in grants to nonprofits and organizations based in Ohio, including through the Google.org Impact Challenge Ohio. This funding has helped grow Ohio’s manufacturing workforce to fill critical needs for local companies and has helped develop programs to bring economic stability to low-income families in the state.
Since 2010, Google’s Ohio employees — with matching contributions — have donated almost $700,000 to Ohio nonprofits and schools in areas they’re passionate about, including STEM education, economic opportunity, and access to the Internet. Grow with Google has also trained 180,000+ Ohioans in digital skills in partnership with over 280 local organizations.
Read more in the 2020 Ohio Economic Impact Report.
