Old Man River Still
Vital Economic Engine
Vital Economic Engine
|
| The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans $2.4 billion in navigation improvements to add and enlarge locks along the Upper Mississippi-Illinois Waterway System. Not yet funded by Congress, the proposal is working its way through federal government channels. |
| T |
he Savanna Army Depot, tucked in the northwest corner of Illinois on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, contributed to the nation's defense for more than 80 years. Now, that tradition of protecting vital interests continues as a project at the former military installation promises to protect the data of major corporations and hospitals.
Bought by the Army in 1917 during the ramp-up to U.S. participation in World War I, this narrow stretch of land — 14 miles long by 4 miles wide (23 km. by 7 km.) — is now being redeveloped after being designated for closure during the Army's 1995 Base Realignment & Closure (BRAC) round.
The 13,062-acre (5,286-hectare) Depot, located in Carroll and Jo Daviess counties, was initially used as a test facility for howitzers manufactured down river at the Rock Island Arsenal. Later, the facility's role grew to include storage of high-explosive ordnance.
That's where the Savanna Depot Technologies Corp. (SDTC) comes in. The start-up company has leased 402 igloo-like abandoned munitions bunkers at the Depot and says it is taking the business of business continuity to a new level. SDTC hopes to attract companies to store their precious data in the refurbished bunkers that offer the protection of steel-reinforced two-foot thick (61-cm.) concrete walls.
Plans are ambitious: SDTC executives say they may eventually invest US$300 million in the project and could create between 1,000 and 2,000 jobs. SDTC has leased the bunkers for 25 years from the Jo-Carroll Local Redevelopment Authority, the entity charged with redeveloping the former military installation.
"It's a unique site and a unique value proposition," says Louis Giokas, SDTC's president and CEO. Giokas, a former IBM executive, calls the project a "September 11 play" aimed at giving corporations a disaster-proof, secure site in the fortress-like complex. Giokas learned of the facility in late 2002 and realized it was a natural fit.
"It's always been about taking protection of information assets to the next level," Giokas says. "Even when we started out there wasn't much capacity in the industry. Since then, we've found that there's been so much capacity taken out of the business. We seem to be hitting a sweet spot in the market."
The complex gives new meaning to "bunker mentality." The bunkers are designed to withstand a direct hit by a 500-pound bomb. SDTC will also have a 50-75-person security force comprising former military personnel to guard the igloos.
Anonymity is another key to security here as any would-be intruders will be unable to distinguish one bunker's contents from another's.
SDTC is now lining up clients and Giokas says the project is drawing interest from big corporations, hospitals and government entities. Financial institutions and homeland security agencies are also potential users. Giokas, who anticipates signing 50 clients by year's end, believes creation of 1,000 jobs is an achievable goal and that number could double over time.
"We feel we can build this site out," Giokas says. "It will be a large business compared to a lot of startups."
Giokas believes the Savanna Depot's central location bodes well for his business, giving companies on both coasts a secure location within a day or two of driving time in the event of another major terrorist attack. He also believes the facility may one day be a catalyst for economic development in the region, with clients possibly locating back-office operations within an hour or two of the bunkers.
Bought by the Army in 1917 during the ramp-up to U.S. participation in World War I, this narrow stretch of land — 14 miles long by 4 miles wide (23 km. by 7 km.) — is now being redeveloped after being designated for closure during the Army's 1995 Base Realignment & Closure (BRAC) round.
The 13,062-acre (5,286-hectare) Depot, located in Carroll and Jo Daviess counties, was initially used as a test facility for howitzers manufactured down river at the Rock Island Arsenal. Later, the facility's role grew to include storage of high-explosive ordnance.
That's where the Savanna Depot Technologies Corp. (SDTC) comes in. The start-up company has leased 402 igloo-like abandoned munitions bunkers at the Depot and says it is taking the business of business continuity to a new level. SDTC hopes to attract companies to store their precious data in the refurbished bunkers that offer the protection of steel-reinforced two-foot thick (61-cm.) concrete walls.
Plans are ambitious: SDTC executives say they may eventually invest US$300 million in the project and could create between 1,000 and 2,000 jobs. SDTC has leased the bunkers for 25 years from the Jo-Carroll Local Redevelopment Authority, the entity charged with redeveloping the former military installation.
"It's a unique site and a unique value proposition," says Louis Giokas, SDTC's president and CEO. Giokas, a former IBM executive, calls the project a "September 11 play" aimed at giving corporations a disaster-proof, secure site in the fortress-like complex. Giokas learned of the facility in late 2002 and realized it was a natural fit.
"It's always been about taking protection of information assets to the next level," Giokas says. "Even when we started out there wasn't much capacity in the industry. Since then, we've found that there's been so much capacity taken out of the business. We seem to be hitting a sweet spot in the market."
The complex gives new meaning to "bunker mentality." The bunkers are designed to withstand a direct hit by a 500-pound bomb. SDTC will also have a 50-75-person security force comprising former military personnel to guard the igloos.
Anonymity is another key to security here as any would-be intruders will be unable to distinguish one bunker's contents from another's.
SDTC is now lining up clients and Giokas says the project is drawing interest from big corporations, hospitals and government entities. Financial institutions and homeland security agencies are also potential users. Giokas, who anticipates signing 50 clients by year's end, believes creation of 1,000 jobs is an achievable goal and that number could double over time.
"We feel we can build this site out," Giokas says. "It will be a large business compared to a lot of startups."
Giokas believes the Savanna Depot's central location bodes well for his business, giving companies on both coasts a secure location within a day or two of driving time in the event of another major terrorist attack. He also believes the facility may one day be a catalyst for economic development in the region, with clients possibly locating back-office operations within an hour or two of the bunkers.
