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Facebook Opens Data Center in Western North Carolina

CHARLOTTE – State and local leaders said there's a lot to like as the social networking company Facebook gets closer to opening the first phase of a data center in Forest City.

The company will eventually open two buildings to handle data for millions of Facebook users on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. 

The energy efficient facility has created hundreds of temporary construction jobs and will employ at least 40 full-time workers once both buildings take on data.

"We'll grow a little bit more with the next building, but with anything, there's a certain overhead and you grow incrementally after that," said Facebook employee George Henry.

State leaders said along with Facebook's data center in Forest City, similar facilities for Google in Lenoir and Apple in Maiden will spur other high tech and high paying jobs in western North Carolina.

By: Brad Broders, News 14 Carolina, 10/4/2011 09/23PM