Niagara Falls
THE
NIAGARA REPORTER
LOCAL NEWS  •  LOCAL VOICES  •  LOCAL MATTERS

Job Creation: NFR’s Niagara Digital Campus and Restaino’s Centennial Park Compared

N
Niagara Reporter-  ·  August 10, 2023
Job Creation: NFR’s Niagara Digital Campus and Restaino’s Centennial Park Compared
SharefXin

Job creation is one of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino’s highest priorities.

Mayor Robert Restaino

In his effort to stop NFR and Urbacon’s Niagara Digital Campus, a 600,000 state of the art data center from being developed, Restaino points to the marvelous job creation opportunities his project, Centennial Park, a 7000 seat arena and parking ramp, will create.

The NF Reporter did an analysis of jobs likely created by the two competing projects for development on the same land.

Centennial Parcel 0

 

Restaino’s $150 million arena – 8 Full Time Jobs, 40 part time

Restaino is right. There will be jobs created. An arena will employ about eight full time employees, and up to 30 part time employees, with a total annual payroll of around a million per year.

  1. General Manager (Full-time)
    • Estimated Annual Salary Range: $70,000 – $150,000
  2. Event Manager (Full-time)
    • Estimated Annual Salary Range: $50,000 – $100,000
  3. Operations Manager (Full-time)
    • Estimated Annual Salary Range: $50,000 – $90,000
  4. Marketing and Sales Team (Full-time and Part-time)
    • Full-time Marketing Manager: $45,000 – $80,000
    • Part-time Marketing Assistants: $15 – $25 per hour
  5. Event Coordinators (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $15 – $25 per hour
  6. Ticketing and Box Office Staff (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $12 – $20 per hour
  7. Security Team (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $12 – $25 per hour
  8. Maintenance and Facility Staff (Full-time and Part-time)
    • Full-time Maintenance Supervisor: $40,000 – $70,000
    • Part-time Maintenance Workers: $15 – $25 per hour
  9. Concessions and Catering Staff (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $10 – $20 per hour plus tips
  10. Audio-Visual Technicians (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $20 – $40 per hour
  11. Technical Support Staff (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $15 – $30 per hour
  12. Administrative and Office Staff (Full-time and Part-time)
    • Full-time Administrative Assistant: $30,000 – $50,000
    • Part-time Administrative Support: $15 – $25 per hour
  13. Guest Services Team (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $12 – $20 per hour
  14. Parking Attendants (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $10 – $18 per hour
  15. Cleaning Crew (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $12 – $20 per hour
  16. Health and Safety Personnel (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $15 – $30 per hour
  17. Public Relations Specialists (Full-time and Part-time)
    • Full-time PR Specialist: $45,000 – $80,000
    • Part-time PR Assistants: $15 – $25 per hour
  18. Financial and Accounting Staff (Full-time)
    • Estimated Annual Salary Range: $40,000 – $70,000
  19. Technical Crew (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $15 – $30 per hour
  20. Logistics and Transportation Staff (Part-time)
    • Estimated Hourly Wage: $12 – $20 per hour

Data Center – 550 full time jobs

The $1.5 billion high-tech data center, which NFR and Urbacon want to develop, will  create about 550 full time jobs.

Management and Leadership:

  1. Data Center Manager: 1 | Annual Salary: $120,000
  2. Security Manager: 1 | Annual Salary: $100,000
  3. Facility Manager: 1 | Annual Salary: $110,000
  4. Project Managers: 8 | Annual Salary (average): $100,000
  5. Business Development Managers: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $120,000
  6. Marketing Managers: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $110,000
  7. Finance Managers: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $120,000
  8. Legal Counsel: 2 | Annual Salary (each): $150,000
  9. Operations Managers: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $110,000
  10. Compliance Specialists: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $85,000

Technical Operations:

11. Data Center Technicians:

  • Rack and Stack Technicians: 10 | Annual Salary (each): $60,000
  • Cable Technicians: 10 | Annual Salary (each): $55,000
  1. Network Engineers: 20 | Annual Salary (each): $90,000
  2. Systems Administrators: 15 | Annual Salary (each): $80,000
  3. Database Administrators: 10 | Annual Salary (each): $85,000
  4. Security Analysts: 18 | Annual Salary (each): $95,000
  5. Storage Engineers: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $95,000
  6. Virtualization Specialists: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $100,000
  7. Cloud Engineers: 10 | Annual Salary (each): $100,000
  8. Monitoring and NOC Technicians: 10 | Annual Salary (average): $70,000
  9. HVAC Technicians: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $65,000
  10. Electrical Engineers/Technicians: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $80,000
  11. DevOps Engineers: 10 | Annual Salary (each): $95,000
  12. Technical Support Specialists: 10 | Annual Salary (each): $70,000
  13. Quality Assurance Engineers: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $85,000
  14. Cybersecurity Analysts: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $90,000

Administrative and Support:

26. Administrative Assistants: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $50,000

  1. IT Support Specialists: 12 | Annual Salary (average): $60,000
  2. Help Desk Technicians: 15 | Annual Salary (average): $45,000
  3. Logistics Coordinators: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $70,000
  4. Procurement Specialists: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $80,000
  5. Documentation Specialists: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $70,000
  6. Training Coordinators: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $60,000
  7. Technical Trainers: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $75,000

Customer Support:

34. Customer Support Representatives: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $55,000

Sales and Marketing:

35. Sales Representatives: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $80,000

  1. Communications Specialists: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $70,000

Finance and Accounting:

37. Accountants: 10 | Annual Salary (each): $75,000

Environmental and Energy:

38. Energy Efficiency Engineers: 5 | Annual Salary (each): $90,000

Types of jobs:

  1. Data Center Technicians: Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the data center, including server maintenance, hardware installation, and troubleshooting.
  2. Network Engineers: Design, implement, and maintain the data center’s networking infrastructure to ensure connectivity and high-speed data transmission.
  3. Systems Administrators: Manage the servers, operating systems, and software applications within the data center for performance and security.
  4. Database Administrators: DBAs manage and maintain the databases that store and retrieve critical information within the data center.
  5. Security Analysts: Handle cybersecurity to protect from potential threats and breaches.
  6. Electrical and HVAC Engineers: Design and maintain the electrical and cooling systems crucial to the data center’s functionality and energy efficiency.
  7. Data Center Managers: Oversee operations, including personnel, equipment, and budget management.
  8. Storage Engineers: Manage data storage, including SAN (Storage Area Network) and NAS (Network Attached Storage) systems.
  9. Virtualization Specialists: Manage and optimize virtualization technologies that allow multiple virtual servers to run on a single physical server.
  10. Cloud Engineers: Design, implement, and manage cloud environments.
  11. Monitoring and NOC (Network Operations Center) Technicians: Monitor the data center’s systems and networks.
  12. Facilities Managers: Oversee the physical infrastructure of the data center, including power distribution, cooling, and building maintenance.
    • Maintenance Technicians: 10 | Annual Salary (each): $60,000
  13. Compliance and Legal Specialists: Ensure the center operates in compliance with regulations and industry standards.
  14. Procurement and Inventory Specialists: Manages equipment procurement, inventory, and vendors.
  15. Project Managers: Coordinates tasks and teams.

IT Professionals: manage and maintain information technology systems, networks, software, hardware, and user support.

  1. Network Engineers: Design, implement, and maintain an organization’s networking infrastructure. They ensure data connectivity, security, and high-speed transmission within the network.
  2. Systems Administrators: Manage and maintain servers, operating systems, and software applications. They handle system performance, security, updates, and backups.
  3. Database Administrators (DBAs): Administer and manage databases that store and retrieve data for various applications. They optimize database performance, ensure data integrity, and manage security.
  4. Security Analysts: Focus on cybersecurity, ensuring that an organization’s systems and data are protected from potential threats and breaches. They implement security measures, monitor for vulnerabilities, and respond to incidents.
  5. Help Desk Technicians: Provide technical support to end-users and employees. They assist with troubleshooting issues, answering questions, and resolving technical problems.
  6. IT Support Specialists: Offer broader technical support, including troubleshooting hardware, software, and network problems. They may also assist in setting up and maintaining user accounts and permissions.
  7. DevOps Engineers: Collaborate with development and operations teams to facilitate the continuous integration, deployment, and monitoring of software applications. They focus on automating processes and improving efficiency.
  8. Technical Support Specialists: Provide in-depth technical support to end-users, often involving more complex issues related to hardware, software, and systems.
  9. Virtualization Specialists: Manage and optimize virtualization technologies, which allow multiple virtual servers to run on a single physical server. They help improve resource utilization and flexibility.
  10. Cloud Engineers: Design, implement, and manage cloud computing environments, ensuring scalability, availability, and security of cloud-based services.
  11. Monitoring and NOC (Network Operations Center) Technicians: Monitor and maintain the data center’s systems and networks to ensure smooth operation, troubleshoot issues, and respond to alerts.
  12. Quality Assurance Engineers: Test and ensure the quality of software applications before deployment. They identify and report defects and work to improve the user experience.

The Niagara Digital Campus will provide some good paying jobs to Niagara Falls and pump a lot of money into the local economy. It will not cost taxpayers any money since the project is funded by the developers.

On the other hand Centennial Park is taxpayer funded and the taxpayers of Niagara Falls will foot the bill for the deficit of which it is estimated will be enormous.

SharefXin

Comments (0)

Leave a comment

More From Niagara Falls Reporter

Niagara Falls Hosts Oldest State Park But State Needs to Provide More Assistance
Featured

Niagara Falls Hosts Oldest State Park But State Needs to Provide More Assistance

By tony Farina · August 26, 2026

By Tony Farina The Niagara Falls State Park, located in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and created in 1885, is recognized as the oldest state park in the U.S. and contains the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and a portion of the Horseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls). Following a $44-million refurbishment of the 221-acre park in 2003, in 2007 it was named the 10 th most beautiful spot in America by “The Today Show.” According to the state’s Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the State Park receives more than nine million visits each year. It is

Featured

WEBR to Launch Katie Daye Show on Monday

By tony Farina · August 21, 2026

By Tony Farina There is much excitement in the airwaves at WEBR The Breeze as station manager and program director Frank Miller has announced that beginning on Monday, Aug. 24, the talent he has been hoping to bring in for some time will be joining the WEBR midday lineup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every weekday. “We’re just thrilled to be launching the Kadie Daye show on Monday, and we are so looking forward to having a talent like Kadie on our airwaves at WEBR AM 1440, FM 105.3 and FM 106.9,” Miller said in talking about the new

Far Too Often, Promises Have Proved Empty; Niagara Falls Needs Progress And Strategic Planning
Featured

Far Too Often, Promises Have Proved Empty; Niagara Falls Needs Progress And Strategic Planning

By tony Farina · August 4, 2026

By Tony Farina Promises are nice and they bring hope for the future. But unfortunately, most of the time, promises have fallen flat for the City of Niagara Falls, some succeeding but many turning out to be empty promises and major disappointments. At this point, Niagara Falls doesn’t need more failed promises. What the city needs is progress to build a better future and a plan to make it work. City leadership must bring it all together. While there are promises to build a better future on the table and being talked about, like Centennial Park and the Niagara Digital

Governor Issues Response To McMurray’s Letter on Slag Concerns
Featured

Governor Issues Response To McMurray’s Letter on Slag Concerns

By tony Farina · August 4, 2026

By Tony Farina The radioactive slag bubbling up across Niagara County in recent weeks, triggering state and federal testing and some remedial work and family relocations, is the ongoing and seemingly never-ending legacy of the environmental desecration of the past 100-plus years by massive corporations dumping toxic waste that was the subject of Christen Civiletto’s book Thundering Waters. “What we have again is an environmental storm,” said attorney and former Grand Island Supervisor Nate McMurray, a candidate for election to the 45th District State Assembly seat now open because of the retirement of Angelo Morinello. McMurray will run for the