A robust cyber scene exists in Montgomery County within the Southeast Gas region, supporting the Data Centers and Cybersecurity cluster. Montgomery County boasts Alabama’s first internet exchange point, one of only four in the southeast U.S. The collaborative work with public and private partners created an “IT Nerve Center” to boost internet speeds and establish a cooperative approach to cybersecurity. Montgomery is home to the RSA Data Center and the Cyber College of the Air Force at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base. Along with data centers, the target includes custom computer programming services, computer design and facilities management. Dale County has the opportunity to build on any cybersecurity activity occurring at the Army’s Fort Rucker post. The Network Enterprise Center, in particular, operates to support the Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker.
Talent
- Nearly 1 million population in the region
- Labor force of more than 430,000
- 6,401 degrees awarded in the region related to Data Centers and Cybersecurity with 459 of those in the Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services fields (2017)
- Cyber College of the Air Force at Maxwell Gunter Air Force Base (located in Montgomery)
- Data Centers and Cybersecurity workforce of 7,700
- Existing pool of skilled industrial workers for Data Centers and Cybersecurity
Thriving Business
- Data Centers and Cybersecurity sector grew by 37.2% from 2008 to 2018 nationally
- Data Centers and Cybersecurity sector expected growth of 4% expected nationally over the next 10 years
Area Assets
- Internet exchange point and RSA Data Center located in region
- Interstate highways provide logistical advantage
- Affordable cost of labor
- Excellent vocational training
- 22 colleges & universities in the region
- Engineering related programs in area
- Availability of fully served industrial sites
- Affordable cost of living
Related Data Center and Cybersecurity Existing Pool of High-Demand Occupations
Southeast Gas Region and Subregions
The Southeast Gas region comprises 18 counties in southeast Alabama that are served by Southeast Gas. These counties are Barbour, Butler, Chambers, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Escambia, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Pike and Russell. Given the diversity of this territory, Garner Economics divided the region into two subregions: North and South. The map above illustrates the subregions for the purposes of the Garner Economics Target Industries Study. This subdivision was accomplished based on industry clusters by county.
