As someone in the data center industry, I never imagined tree planting and orchard tending would be part of the job description.

But this Earth Day, my company launched a partnership with a non-profit to restore areas damaged by forest fires near our campuses. We're also working with a foundation to plant orchards across many of our U.S. markets, with the goal of providing fruit to local food banks.

Does all this feel good? Sure. But it also makes good business sense.

In my industry, being a good neighbor isn't an aspirational, box-ticking exercise. It's a must — not only to gain access to the communities where we do business but also to ensure we retain local employees and protect our investment. This is crucial for data center providers, which typically build facilities to run for 30 to 40 years.

That physical presence and long time horizon make our sector somewhat unique. But no matter what your company does, the benefits of building strong relationships with local stakeholders add up, often far outweighing the costs. In fact, businesses practicing corporate social responsibility can increase their market value by up to 6% and their revenue by as much as 20%.

Here's why being a good neighbor matters and how it can set up a company for long-term success.

Think of the neighbors you want living next door. They maintain their property, and they're considerate and community-minded. When it comes to being a corporate neighbor, the same principles apply.

Over the past decade, my company has set up shop in almost 20 communities. We don't just bring good, well-paying jobs, using local labor whenever........

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