Equinix in Loudoun County: Technology meets community commitment and economic impact

Community at a glance:

15 data centers

Operating in Northern Virginia

200 data center

Operations team members employed in Northern Virginia

250 global corporate

Team members headquartered in Northern Virginia

Empowering economic impact:

$579 Million+

Generated $579 million in economic output and contributed

$100 Million

to labor income in Northern Virginia alone

$700,000+

In contributions to local area donations to nonprofit organizations

For every 1 job directly created by data centers, 3.5 to 4 jobs are indirectly created throughout the data center ecosystem [NVTC].

2.4x output multiplier for every direct dollar spent (see more below).

Strengthening the Loudoun economy. Committed to economic development

From economic development to job creation, from volunteer hours to tax dollars, Equinix is committed to the future of Loudoun County. Local businesses, workers, and suppliers received $500 million worth of additional work and $100 million more in pay because of these investments in Loudoun. It’s estimated that every $1 paid by Equinix stimulates $2.40 in local economic activity.

Employee-led impact. Community members helping the community

We are committed to strengthening the communities where we live and work. Our involvement goes beyond simple financial contributions. Equinix sponsors employees to volunteer with local charities and share their expertise through community-led, education initiatives.

International Data Center Day, Bring Your Kids to Work Day, and Earth Day initiatives are all invigorating local events. These events are opportunities for Equinix and the community to engage with one another. Together, we are promoting education, sustainability, and family engagement within the technology sector.

Equinix and the Equinix Foundation proudly support local nonprofits and educational institutions that create real, measurable impacts. Our partnerships reflect a core belief: strong businesses help build strong communities. By investing in local organizations, encouraging volunteerism, and advancing inclusive education, we make a lasting, positive difference in Loudoun County.

In 2025, Equinix employees:

Contributed $71,014 ($23,278 employee donation, $14,793 Dollars for Doers, and $32,943 corporate matching).
Dedicated more than 1,169 volunteer hours.
Helped over 80 local charities and community initiatives.

Powering education for an empowered workforce:

Equinix Foundation’s vision is a more accessible, sustainable and interconnected digital future for everyone, everywhere. We are advancing digital inclusion in communities where we work through connectivity, digital literacy, skill training, and career development.

Since 2023, we have partnered with Loudoun Education Foundation (LEF) to provide grants, volunteers, and strategic support to bridge the digital divide.

So far, our collaboration has fueled programs such as:

Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy
At Potomac Falls High School in Sterling, we’re preparing students with specialized skills in Information technology. So they can graduate with great employability and accelerate through college courses. This program is done in partnership with George Mason University College of Education and Human Development, Northern Virginia Community College, and Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS).
Summer in the Trades Program
8th graders enjoy hands-on experience in diverse technical topics in this week-long camp experience. Each session will focus on a different Career and Technical Education pathway including computer science, AI, and data center technician. This program reaches approximately 200 students each week!
Mobile STEM Lab (in partnership with the nonprofit Learning Undefeated)
Our Equinix Foundation partnered with LCPS, the (LEF), and the nonprofit, Learning Undefeated, to engage with local students. Together, we host immersive, hands-on learning experiences with mobile STEM labs. For one week, middle school students take “field trips” to these mobile STEM Labs. Equinix volunteers let students explore cutting-edge topics like artificial intelligence, the science behind diseases, and much more.
Educator Upskilling Initiatives
We partnered with LEF to provide learning opportunities for the Loudoun Public School Career Technical and Adult Education department. These opportunities grow workforce development opportunities and the knowledge base within the data center industry.
Data Center Tours and Education Days
It’s extraordinarily rare to get the opportunity to tour a working data center. However, we are providing students with immersive half-day events that include interactive sessions, real-world problem solving, and data center tours. These education days are in partnership with LEF.
Development of a Data Center Technician curriculum
Loudoun County Department of Economic Development has identified data centers as a key sector for talent development. So, we are working with LCPS to develop a robust curriculum. The goal is to teach students about data centers, cybersecurity, networking, what data center technicians do, and more. This curriculum will be deployed across the school district.

Since 2023, Equinix Foundation has committed $170,000 toward the Loudoun Education Foundation. That’s in addition to $241,202 in Equinix employee donations and corporate matching. Altogether that totals over $411,000 in donation contributions to Loudoun County.

Sustainability through innovation:

15 out of the 15 data centers in Loudoun County enjoy 100% renewable energy coverage.

We’re using reclaimed water to build new cooling systems at several of our Ashburn facilities.

DC15 is experimenting with new power generation and cooling technologies, paving the way for energy innovation.

Supporting the power grid with reliability and stability

Currently, Loudoun County has about 6,000 MW of active data center capacity. That’s enough to power 1.5 million homes. Unlike other data centers, we have 100% of renewable energy coverage. That means we support the power grid, rather than straining it.

But what about water usage? We utilize reclaimed water provided by Loudon water for irrigation and cooling at several of our Ashburn data centers. Reclaimed water is a post-consumer, non-potable (non-drinking water) source of water that reduces demand on drinking water supplies.

One of our Loudoun centers is a Co-Innovation Facility (CIF), meaning it can try out new power and cooling technologies. For example, we’re using Bloom Energy fuel cells that use natural gas to produce electricity without combustion. And we’re currently experimenting with liquid cooling technology, presenting new opportunities for higher efficiency and greater sustainability.

Career pathways to data center jobs

Opening the door to in-demand, high-paying jobs.

“I had very little faith that anyone would want to hire a stay-at-home mom who has been at home for 10 years… especially great companies like Equinix. The Workforce Development program gave me not only the opportunity but the confidence that people really do appreciate my perspective and my aptitude, all the different skills that I have learned at different jobs.”

Customer Operations III Technician IBX Operations in Culpeper, VA

Inspiring future careers in STEAM

"We are incredibly grateful to the Loudoun Education Foundation and Equinix for providing us the opportunity to bring the Mobile STEM Lab to River Bend Middle School. This was an incredible experience for our students, allowing them to engage in real-world learning with topics such as Artificial Intelligence, coding, data analysis, and other STEM-related areas. Opportunities like this help inspire our students to explore future careers in technology and innovation."

David Shaffer Principal of River Bend Middle School

Growing a stronger community with smarter connections

"Northern Virginia is the largest data center market in the U.S. and attracts data center tenants from around the world that require interconnection to an extensive ecosystem of cloud and network providers... Equinix's Ashburn campus embodies the kind of facility that is able to provide interconnection opportunities to businesses that need to improve their overall performance. The Equinix Washington, D.C. data centers are examples of how interconnection is evolving to help companies accelerate their digital transformation."

Kelly Morgan Analyst Team Lead for 451 Research

The future of Loudoun: What’s coming next.

More Collaborations:

We are continuing our partnership with Loudoun Education Foundation and Learning Undefeated to inspire more local students.
We have plans to expand equitable access to education by partnering with charities like Mobile Hope of Loudoun and LEF’s Backpack Coalition.
We’re creating a 2-year grant to support a new high school data center technician training program.

Innovation through legislation:

Regulations lag behind innovation and can also stunt entire communities. So we’re working with the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and Loudoun Virginia Economic Development to craft smarter regulations for all.

Investing in Loudoun County:

Over the past 20 years, Equinix has invested over $1 billion in Loudoun County.
We will continue to invest in Loudoun County by building new data centers investing in clean energy and sustainability.

We are better together: get the facts you need to help your community thrive.

Ready to help your community thrive like Loudoun County? Contact us to learn how.

Sources:

[1] The Impact of Data Centers on the State and Local Economies of Virginia, Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), March 2022.

[2] Equinix’s contribution to the US economy: Ashburn & Northern Virginia, Report by KPMG, November 2024.

[3] Loudoun County Public Schools Hosts Mobile Stem Lab, Loudoun Public Schools, October 24, 2024.

[4] How We’re Inspiring the Next Generation of Data Center Professionals, Equinix Blog, March 21, 2023.

[5] Equinix Expands in Washington, D.C. Area with New Flagship Data Center, Equinix Press Release, October 26, 2017.

[6] Advocacy and Collaboration, Equinix Sustainability Report 2024.

[7] Equinix to Break Ground at Future Ashburn Data Center Campus, Equinix Press Release, October 14, 2015.