The Village of Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC), and Milwaukee 7 (M7) announced plans for Microsoft to significantly expand its investment in Mount Pleasant.
PLANNED DATA CENTERS
If approved by the Village and County, the company would invest billions of dollars to construct new datacenters to meet the evolving computational needs of its global customer base, expanding on Microsoft’s $1 billion investment announced earlier this year, which is already among the largest single private sector investments in Wisconsin history. Microsoft is among a large and growing roster of technology companies helping Wisconsin to firmly plant its flag in the digital economy of the 21st Century.
Microsoft would acquire an additional 1,030 acres within Mount Pleasant Tax Incremental District (TID) No. 5. If approved by the Village and County, approximately 630 of these acres would be purchased from the Village of Mount Pleasant in Areas II and III. The remaining acreage would be purchased from a private landowner. Once these purchases are complete, Microsoft will own 1,345 acres in Mount Pleasant, inclusive of 315 acres the company purchased from the Village in May, making the company the largest landowner in TID No. 5. Construction is already underway on the parcel Microsoft currently owns in the eastern portion of Area III.
Planning for the Mount Pleasant datacenters has already begun, and the company anticipates investing billions of dollars over the next decade in buildings, support structures, systems and equipment.
COMPANY INVESTING IN COMMUNITY, IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPMENT
In addition to Microsoft’s ongoing investment in TID No. 5, the company has advanced partnerships with local organizations to support community priorities. Microsoft has committed $4,200,000 to restore approximately 1.5 miles of Lamparek Creek; $100,000 for water restoration projects to be undertaken throughout Racine County in cooperation with Root-Pike Win; $200,000 in support for the United Way of Racine County to bolster programming and STEM education efforts; and ongoing collaborations with Gateway Technical College to establish a Microsoft Data Center Academy. Additional information about Microsoft’s commitment to the local community is available here.
LOCAL AND STATE INVESTMENTS PAVE THE WAY
The Wisconsin Innovation Park in Mount Pleasant is positioned to welcome the expanded investment from Microsoft, which is among the world’s most respected and dynamic technology companies. In 2017, a coordinated effort among dozens of state and local governmental entities and agencies, as well as multiple utility partners, transformed 3,000 acres in Mount Pleasant into one of the most robust megaproject sites in the United States. The vision was to spur a transformational development zone building upon southeastern Wisconsin’s core economic and technical strengths, creating thousands of advanced technology jobs and spurring billions in private sector investment. Microsoft’s decision to deepen its investment is a key milestone in achieving the 2017 vision. Foxconn supported this investment by making the requisite land available for Microsoft’s expansion to further the goals and intentions of creating a technology hub. Foxconn, which has spent more than $1 billion in Wisconsin inclusive of capital investments and operating expenditures, maintains a significant presence in Area I of TID No. 5 where they currently employ approximately 1,000 people.
The State of Wisconsin has been a strong partner with the Village and County to create one of the most robust megaproject sites in the United States. Governor Tony Evers and other state leaders were key collaborators in supporting Microsoft’s expansion plans.
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
Microsoft’s purchase and development of the land is subject to local approvals by the Village of Mount Pleasant and Racine County, including agreements being considered in November meetings.
Under the terms of the amended agreement with Microsoft, Microsoft will guarantee a minimum assessed value of $1.4 billion on its investments in Areas II and III, by 2028. That guarantee is in addition to the existing $1.4 billion minimum valuation guarantee by Foxconn in Area I. As part of these agreements, Foxconn is releasing its Developer Acquisition Rights to the land in Areas II and III that Microsoft seeks to purchase.
Proceeds from the sale of the Village-owned land to Microsoft will flow as follows:
- $16 million that would otherwise be due to Foxconn will be retained by the Village to fund the 2023 Make-Up Payment and a portion of the 2024 Area I Special Assessment payment due from Foxconn;
- $24 million will fully pay for County bonds issued to acquire Area II and III lands;
- Approximately $12 million will fund the completion of infrastructure along Wisconn Valley Way;
- $12 million will be paid to the County for obligations the Village owes to the County (as part of the Village/County Cooperation Agreement); and
- $36 million will be held in reserve to secure municipal debt (under an amendment to the Village/County Cooperation Agreement).
NEXT STEPS
The agreements that would enable the proposed development will be introduced to the Mount Pleasant Village Board on November 13 and to the Racine County Board on November 14. No votes will take place on those dates. The Village Board will consider the proposed land purchase and development agreements on November 27. The Racine County Board will consider the agreements on November 28. Pending approvals, the land transfers would take place by the end of the year.