SEATTLE - Sabey Data Center Properties next data center is located in northern Virginia's data center corridor, the company announced Wednesday.

The announcement comes just weeks after Sabey President John Sabey was sent an iPod Touch from Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.

The iPod contained a message about why data center properties are good for Virginia. 

It was delivered at the end of the Washington state Legislature's special session.

A tax break extension meant to encourage data centers to build in Washington did not even go to a vote.

But the company's decision to buy the property was made considerably before McDonnell sent the iPod and marketing packet to Sabey, according to Jim Kneeland, a Sabey spokesperson.

"We are pleased to be welcomed with open arms by the state of Virginia," Sabey commented. "We are excited to expand into one of the most dynamic data center areas in the world. Ashburn is a prime location that delivers many of the qualities our clients are looking for."

Kneeland, of Sabey, said "unequivocally yes" the company wants to stay in Washington, but must also stay competitive.

"Customers dictate where we locate, not just our love for our home state," Kneeland commented. 

In Virginia, construction on the 490,000-square-foot Intergate.Ashburn begins later this summer on 38 acres of land.

It is close to Dulles International Airport and uses more than 70 megawatts of power.

Sabey Construction is the project's general contractor.

Kneeland explained the design was like that of Intergate.Quincy's building in Quincy. 

Intergate.Quincy is a 520,000-square-foot data center under construction.

When all phases are completed, the Quincy facility employs an estimated 300 people, depending on leasing, Kneeland explained.

Sabey has tenants for the Quincy facility, but Kneeland couldn't divulge their names Wednesday.

He said he wasn't sure of the number of tenants. 

He does know they were critical in getting the first phase of the Courtesy photo project going.

Sabey has a data center in Wenatchee called Intergate.Columbia.Courtesy photo Earlier this month, the company bought a 40 megawatt data center project in New York City called Intergate.Manhattan. The building measures about 1 million square feet. 

"Ashburn is another critical node in the array of data centers that Sabey is assembling to serving its customer base," Sabey stated. "With campuses in the New York City and Washington, D.C. metro areas, we are significantly enhancing our strategic presence and capacity as a national provider of data centers."