CARIBOU – A software support firm on Wednesday officially accepted a building donated by the city, which it will use to eventually employ an estimated 100 people.

Virtual Managed Solutions LLC, which troubleshoots and repairs computer or network problems by offering remote information technology services, backup solutions and hosting solutions, is made up of employees who were displaced when ATX laid off close to 100 people in December 2007.

The business has partnered with the Northern Maine Development Commission, the city of Caribou, Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Pioneer Wireless to form an IT cluster to broaden and strengthen the technical capabilities of the region’s IT sector.

Virtual Managed Solutions opened in January and hired 23 full-time software support technicians a month later.

The company soon will move its business and training center into a building at 52 Sweden St. in Caribou. Its secure technology center is housed at the Pioneer Data Center facility in Presque Isle.

One of the unique aspects of the company, according to VMS chief executive officer C.B. Smith, is that it has the only internationally diverse Internet link in the state – this means that data flow services would remain uninterrupted should Internet services in Maine go off-line. This was accomplished by Houlton-based Pioneer Wireless, which created a link to the Canadian Internet system for the company.

Smith said this diversity means companies from across the nation can receive greater assurance that their technology needs will be met, which translates into better security and profitability.

The Caribou Development Corp. originally purchased the building at 52 Sweden St. in 1992 and later donated it to Glen Willette, an entrepreneur who formed ATX.

Late last week, CCH Small Firm Services, which acquired ATX 14 years ago, gave the 2,400-square-foot facility back to the city. City officials then announced that they expected to donate the building to a technology company.

Smith was excited about moving into the building and helping more ATX employees get back into the work force.

“This building was donated to us by the city in an effort to help us put some of the former ATX workers back to work,” he said. “There has been so much enthusiasm around that. This is a very highly skilled work force, and it would be a terrible waste for these people to get jobs in other fields.”

He said the Sweden Street facility should be furnished and ready for operations in about six weeks.

jlbdn@ainop.com

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