Officials from tech giant Microsoft announced Wednesday they are going to invest at least $1 billion into purchasing four data centers in Catawba County, North Carolina.
The investment will take place over the next decade and will be targeted at data centers in Conover, Hickory, and Maiden, according to an announcement by WSOC on Twitter. Land has been set aside near pre-existing developments in each of the towns, and Microsoft will be receiving tax-breaks from the county and each of the three cities.
Breaking Catawba Co- major economic announcement where Microsoft says it is coming to Hickory, Maiden and Conover. The company plans on spending one billion dollars over 10-years and will get economic development grants. The story today on channel 9 eyewitness news at five. pic.twitter.com/f1LH53tqhu
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) November 9, 2022
Citizens were aware that a major company was coming to the area, and had speculated that it would either be Google or Microsoft, WSOC stated. Apple has had a large data center in Maiden since 2009, which employs hundreds of local residents and generates roughly $2 million in taxes every year for the city.
City leaders refused to answer questions prior to the announcement as they signed a slew of nondisclosure agreements, and likely did not want to jeopardise the deal, WSOC noted. Since Apple moved into Maiden, the city has built a new police department, fire department, and town hall. (RELATED: Three Shot, Multiple Injured At North Carolina Concert: Report)
Not all residents are thrilled about the data centers and investments into the city, with one local resident telling WSOC that “I think it’s going to cause a lot of traffic and probably a lot of confusion, so I’m just not thrilled about the whole thing.”
Microsoft recently announced job cuts amid slowing growth, according to CNBC.