Transforming Loudoun County by Embracing Data Centers

Loudoun County's Buddy Rizer joins me to explore how the data center industry must embrace evangelism to avoid an “us vs. them” to “all together now.” From utility partnerships to powering the internet economy, Buddy shares his vision on tackling sustainability, community outreach, and the fine art of giving grace (even when neighbors engage you about power lines while you're in the supermarket).

Buddy Rizer is the Executive Director of the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development, the 2021 Economic Development Organization of the Year. During his tenure, Rizer and his team have attracted more than $50 billion in new commercial investment and more than 50 thousand new jobs. During this time, the growth in the commercial base has help lower the tax rate in Loudoun by more than 41 cents on the dollar, saving residents thousands of dollars annually on their tax bill.

Mr. Rizer has been named a Tech Titan 7 times by Washingtonian Magazine, has been named one of the 50 most influential Virginians 6 times by Virginia Business Magazine, is a 4-time member of Virginia’s Power 500, and was three times named to the Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 as one of the most influential businesspeople in Washington, DC.

Mr. Rizer is a Certified Economic Developer, a certified Entrepreneurship Development Professional, and a graduate of Virginia Tech's Local Government Management Graduate Certificate Program.
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