HIC Annouces First Technology Partner Firm: Sidus Data

The City of Harrisonburg, VA, is pleased to announce the selection of the Sidus Data as a technology partner and the first member of the Downtown Innovation Center at One Court Square. Sidus Data is a data services company, based in Crofton , MD , and currently operates two data centers, with a primary center in Annapolis , Maryland and a secondary location in Northern Virginia .

Left to Right: Dr. James Barnes, Harrisonburg Economic Development; Mark Powell, CEO Sidus Data;and Larry Rogers, Mayor, Harrisonburg

"The selection of Sidus as a partner is a great start for the Downtown Innovation Center ," said Harrisonburg assistant economic development director Jim Barnes. "Sidus is highly recognized as a leader in data services and they bring many well established relationships that will benefit the Innovation Center 's client firms. They, also, have vast experience in the execution of business incubation strategies. We strongly anticipate that, with the addition of Sidus' data services, more firms will be drawn to the center by offering an enhanced and comprehensive support system."

Sidus Data CEO, Mark L. Powell states: "We feel honored and privileged to become a partner and member of the Harrisonburg Innovation Center team. The leadership has created a sharp vision of the future and truly understands the new paradigm of public-private partnership."

Initially, Sidus will create ten new information technology jobs at the new data and disaster recovery center. Sidus will manage the technology for the Innovation Center and the entire Harrisonburg downtown "technology zone". Included in that will be networking services, data warehousing, disaster recovery, day-to-day maintenance and mentoring of new businesses. Sidus will provide client companies access to data and Internet services.

The Innovation Center leadership team is currently reviewing architectural and engineering qualifications and proposals, and will award a contract for designing renovations to the building at One Court Square by the end of February. The project will commence in May of this year with the Innovation Center projected to open in early 2006. Harrisonburg is seeking clients companies for the Center in conjunction with James Madison University , Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, the Shenandoah Valley Partnership and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Contact: Cathy Shaw
410-897-1050 ext. 112
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