Governor Perdue Announces HP to Locate Data Centers in Metro Atlanta

ATLANTA, May 17, 2006 —Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that HP will build two state-of-the-art data centers in Metro Atlanta, creating 280 jobs and an initial investment of $600 million, a number that will grow by the tens of millions over the next five years.

"Atlanta is a hub for telecommunications and information technology, so it is not surprising that a great company like HP would choose Georgia," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "HP's investment means the company is committed to being a member of Georgia's business community for a long time to come."

One of the 200,000 square-foot centers will be constructed at HP's campus in Alpharetta, and the second will locate in an existing building in Suwanee. The 280 new jobs will be split between the two locations.

The $600 million investment is the second largest project of this type in recent history, behind only Kia Motor's $1.2 billion automotive assembly plant in West Point announced in March. When combined with Gulfstream Aerospace's plan for a $300 million expansion that was also revealed in March, the state of Georgia has announced three projects in just over two months totaling $2.1 billion in new investment.

According to Site Selection magazine, Georgia's business climate was ranked twelfth in the nation when Governor Perdue took office in 2003. In 2004, the ranking moved up to seventh, and this year it leaped to third.

"The business climate we've worked to cultivate is bringing new jobs and investment to the state in record numbers," said Governor Sonny Perdue.

"The state and the communities involved in this project worked together to ensure that we had all the information we needed to make this decision," said Carlos Cardoso, HP's state and local government affairs manager for the Eastern region. "We look forward to bringing these data centers online and providing our customers with the service they are accustomed to from HP."

Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister said, "It was an honor to be able to partner with Governor Perdue and his staff, the state's Department of Economic Development, the Gwinnett Chamber, Georgia Power and the city of Suwanee to put together a package with such a long-lasting economic impact for Gwinnett County and the state of Georgia. Recruiting companies like HP to locate business in our community is precisely the reason my fellow commissioners and I approved the creation of an economic development program earlier this year. I commend the Board's leadership and proudly proclaim this our first success."

"HP's continued and expanded presence retains jobs, maintains a strong tax base and helps continue the pro-business attitude of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and officials of the city of Alpharetta," said Fulton County District 3 Commissioner Lynne Riley. "HP is an important economic engine in the metro area and I am pleased the company management is exhibiting a positive show of support for the area."

HP is a technology company that operates in more than 170 countries around the world. The company provides infrastructure and business offerings that span from handheld devices to some of the world's most powerful supercomputer installations. HP, ranked eleventh in the Fortune 500 list, offers consumers a wide range of products and services from digital photography to digital entertainment and from computing to home printing. This comprehensive portfolio helps the company match the right products, services and solutions to the customers' specific needs.