Augusta University president wants to move cyber programs to Sibley Mill (Gordon: for sale, 2015)

[Airforceguy]

I found this snippet in Sylvia Cooper's column today. This would definitely be huge not only for Augusta University, but for the West End-Harrisburg community. A project like this would really help elevate the university's cyber program and help attract top notch talent to Augusta.

Cen*tral to Keel’s vision for growth is Sibley Mill, where he sees a data center with the Augusta Canal providing electricity and cooling for computers.
“And I know the city is already in talks with a potential company to put a data center here that would be an anchor tenant for that,” he said.
Keel also envisions moving the university’s cyber programs to the mill and having classrooms, faculty offices and research labs in cybersecurity that could attract businesses wanting to locate near Fort Gordon’s Cyber Command.
“By the way, I just put a million dollars into what we call a ‘cluster hire,’” he said. “A cluster hire, bringing in at least six faculty who are experts in the area of cybersecurity to really jump-start this whole program we have.”
Keel envisions a whole village of cyber folk growing up around the mill.
“And it really would be a Sili*con Valley of cybersecurity,” he said.
In response to a question about his experiences since the name change to Augusta University, Keel said, “Ninety percent of the people are incredibly happy, incredibly pleased and relieved.”
In response to the question of “What can we do for you?” Keel said, “Write us a check. Seriously, to support your university you can do it in a number of ways.”
Of course, creating a Sili*con Valley of cybersecurity will take money. Lots of money. And now that SPLOST 7 has passed, maybe the city can start talking about a penny tax for mills and call it M-SPLOST.
Wouldn’t that be cool?

Former mayor Deke Copenhaver gets credit for sales tax approval | The Augusta Chronicle

[Pu239]

Follow the money....