Early County Schools sees early investment from data center project
QTS Data Centers has initiated an early investment in Early County Schools in Blakely, Georgia, providing $40,000 as part of a community benefits agreement. This initial funding will support the marching band and other student/staff incentives, with further funds from a larger $28 million betterment fund designated for a new high school building.
Early County Schools in Blakely, Georgia, is receiving an early investment from QTS Data Centers, a partner in an incoming data center project. The school system accepted a $40,000 donation from QTS, which Superintendent Brian R. Mims described as "incredibly appreciative" given the challenges of funding opportunities for students in a small rural system.
This initial donation is part of QTS's new Good Neighbor Standard, a community benefits and revenue agreement that allows the community to access financial resources before the data center project becomes operational, which could take years. The planned data center campus will span a million square feet between Highway 27 and Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard.
The $40,000 will immediately benefit the school's marching band by providing instruments for students who might not otherwise afford them, as well as offering additional student and staff incentives. Furthermore, $1.6 million out of a larger $28 million community betterment fund from the project is earmarked for a new Washington High School building. Superintendent Mims emphasized that QTS is committed to investing in the growth and prosperity of Blakely and Early County, particularly through its students.