Editor’s note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2024 “Community Cheerleaders” special section of The Jamestown Sun. The special section features volunteers in the community.
JAMESTOWN — Applied Digital Corp. wouldn’t be the company it is today if it had chosen a different location other than Jamestown, according to Nick Phillips, executive vice president of operations and public affairs.
“Jamestown was fantastic to us as a first site,” Phillips said. “From the day that we set foot in Jamestown, the community was very welcoming and interested in what was going on.”
Applied Digital designs, develops and operates next-generation data centers across North America to provide digital infrastructure solutions to the high-performance computing (HPC) industry, according to its website.
In North Dakota, Applied Digital has blockchain sites about 7 miles north of Jamestown and 1 mile west of Ellendale. Applied Digital currently has a 100-megawatt facility in Jamestown and a 180-megawatt facility in Ellendale.
Applied Digital is also constructing a 10-megawatt HPC facility north of Jamestown and a 125-megawatt HPC facility at Ellendale.
Phillips said the 10-megawatt HPC facility at Jamestown will be operational in the upcoming months. About half of the building has been erected for the HPC facility at Ellendale, he said.
The company is also constructing a new administrative building in Jamestown that includes work space and lounging space for its employees.
“That’s another example of us as a company growing, but it’s also an example of places for our employees to grow inside of the company,” he said.
Phillips said Applied Digital will need more employees who have opportunities to grow within the company. He said new employees start as an entry-level data center operator. He said the company provides “extensive” training to its employees.
“We are bringing folks along that maybe don’t really perceive that high-tech jobs in high-tech companies is something that they can do but it is really something that is achievable if they are willing to put in the work, time and the energy,” he said.
Phillips said the company has employees who started at the entry-level position and have worked hard to move into major roles at the North Dakota sites.
Phillips said the company has given back to its communities in several ways.
He said people have been concerned about their power bills increasing because of Applied Digital.
“One of the things that we’ve been able to do is work with our utility providers to make sure that hasn’t been the case,” he said. “MDU (Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.) returned several million dollars to their other customers in Ellendale. … Otter Tail (Power Co.) has also been a great partner for us to work with there in Jamestown in the same regard. We make sure we are benefiting the community and not being a drag on it.”
He said Applied Digital donated to the Two Rivers Activity Center for the new outdoor pickleball courts and has participated in other fundraisers.
Phillips said it is important for the company to buy locally. The company purchases memberships at TRAC for its employees. When Applied Digital officials are in Jamestown, they take employees to local restaurants.
The company also donated to the University of Jamestown’s sports programs after student-athletes helped unpack items for Applied Digital’s facility.
Masaki Ova joined The Jamestown Sun in August 2021 as a reporter. He grew up on a farm near Pingree, N.D. He majored in communications at the University of Jamestown, N.D.
Wanda Parisien is a computing expert who navigates the vast landscape of hardware and software. With a focus on computer technology, software development, and industry trends, Wanda delivers informative content, tutorials, and analyses to keep readers updated on the latest in the world of computing.
