Georgia workforce leaders outline data center growth, neurodiversity hiring and training partnerships

Leaders from T5 Data Centers, Autism Speaks, the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and Goodwill of Southeast Georgia discussed workforce development needs for Georgia during a lunch-and-learn hosted by the Economic Development & Tourism committee in Savannah; the session's date was not specified in the record.

The panel focused on three interlocking issues: the rapid growth of data-center development and the skills needed to build and operate those facilities; programs to increase employment among autistic and neurodiverse Georgians; and the role of technical colleges and workforce programs in supplying trained workers to industry.

Pete Marron, president and CEO of T5 Data Centers, described the company's business and the factors that attract data centers to Georgia. "For someone to be a successful data center developer, you need 5 ingredients," Marron said, listing land, power, capital, a team and equipment supply as the key components. He said Georgia is currently the No. 2 data-center market in the United States and that T5 plans long-term campus development in the state. Marron said T5 is a roughly 500-person company with about 100 open positions on a typical basis and…