Ask.com eyes Eastern Washington

Called 'ideal location' as company expands

EASTERN WASHINGTON — Months after Yahoo! Inc. and Microsoft Network made decisions to locate data center facilities in Quincy and Wenatchee, another company is taking a look around the area.

Dayne Sampson, Ask.com vice president of operations, confirmed in an e-mail that his company is currently scouting out locations in Eastern Washington, after deciding last year to set up a data center.

While the company is not currently offering details of the project, Sampson said his company is aware that many technology companies are looking to the Eastern Washington area for their data center projects.

"Eastern Washington offers many opportunities for the data center to succeed," he said. "The sound infrastructure, networking capability, close proximity to hydropower and the talented employee base make it an ideal location for Ask.com as we expand the computing infrastructure to support our growing market share."

Sampson added the company is focused on finding locations in Washington and throughout the country where it can operate facilities "the most efficiently with top quality people."

Grant County Economic Development Council Executive Director Terry Brewer said the council has worked with the company since April or May of 2005 and continues to work with Ask.com, but he has signed a confidentiality agreement.

"We are interested in Eastern Washington for the inherent benefits the area provides to Ask.com," Sampson said.