Microsoft recently broke ground on a $1 billion data center in Mount Pleasant, Wis., on a 315-acre parcel of land that had previously been set aside for a Foxconn manufacturing hub. The development was first reported by the Milwaukee Business Journal (MBJ).
The building foundations are set to be installed this fall. According to MBJ, the data center should be completed in 2026 and begin operations by the end of that year. The project is expected to have a "significant impact" on the local economy and to provide thousands of construction jobs.
In June, Microsoft gained approval from the Village of Mount Pleasant for the planned development, and in July approval from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to fill in some wetlands.
Lauren Million, deputy director of the Racine County Economic Development Corp (EDC), has said that the EDC will help local contractors gain certifications to help them get work on the project. “We’re focused on encouraging businesses who are interested in getting involved and making sure they know the avenues to do that,” Million said.
Microsoft is also looking to develop data centers in San Jose, California; San Antonio, Texas; and Sterling, Virginia, among others.