BUFFALO, W.Va. — Google is supporting several local organizations in Putnam County.
Google announced its intentions to establish a data center in Buffalo in March. Last month, the Putnam County Commission reported that Google wants to hold a town hall-style discussion with the community. No date has been set for that meeting yet.
Now, Google is putting forth funding at Buffalo Elementary and High School, George Washington Elementary and Middle School, the Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department, and the Buffalo Senior Center.
At Buffalo High School, Google is:
– providing free athletic event admission for all current Buffalo High School students for the upcoming school year
– investing in new library kiosks and physical books to help student literacy and decrease screen time
– funding audio/visual (A/V) equipment for morning announcements that students broadcast
– funding supplies for a “faculty collaboration room” to help class projects
Buffalo High School Principal Joshua Isaacs said these improvements will be extremely beneficial for students, staff, and faculty.
“This funding will provide Buffalo High School students with greater opportunities to engage in their school community, both academically and socially,” Isaacs said. “Our Bison students are hardworking, caring individuals who deserve opportunities that help them make the most of their educational experience. We are grateful for this support, which will open doors to enriching academic experiences and rewarding extracurricular activities.”
At the Buffalo Senior Center, Google is partnering with 84 Lumber to provide:
– funding new flooring in the building
– paying for a new wheelchair ramp that leads into a workout area
At the Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department, Google is:
– funding new furniture and applicance purchases to support the firefighters
At Buffalo Elementary, George Washington Elementary, and George Washington Middle School, Google is
– buying new digital signs for the school properties made by Huntington vendor Paris Signs
Putnam County officials praised Google’s investment.
“Google continues to be a tremendous partner in Putnam County,” Putnam County Development Authority Executive Director Morganne Tenney said. “Earlier this summer, Google listened to local input and launched a dedicated community portal where residents and prospective business suppliers can submit questions and ideas.”
“Google has made investments and launched its website, and in addition, invited local community elected officials to tour a data center of similar size in Ohio,” Tenney added. “This tour was organized to provide insights into the data center proposed for Buffalo. Google is truly dedicated to understanding our community’s needs, and we are grateful for their transparency and investment.”
Meanwhile, Google officials said the Buffalo community is very important to them.
“Google is proud to partner with Putnam County and support local schools, seniors, and emergency services through these community development funds,” said Clay Allsop, Google’s regional head of data center public affairs. “We believe it is essential to move through the data center development process with transparency, open communication, and in alignment with community needs. Google looks forward to continuing to listen to local input and building a lasting relationship in Buffalo.”
Learn more about Google’s data center project in Buffalo online here.