Microsoft Corp. plans to spend almost $500 million to create a generation data center in Mecklenburg County, making it the largest private investment in Southern Virginia.
The center, which will be Microsoft’s most advanced data center, will create 50 new jobs. Virginia competed against North Carolina and Texas for the project.
“The company’s search process was long and competitive, and a great team of players came together to show Microsoft that Mecklenburg County was the right fit for its new version of a state-of-the-art data center,” Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a statement.
McDonnell approved a $2.1 million grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to help Mecklenburg with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $4.8 million in incentives.
The Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative’s open-access fiber optic network was a key reason Microsoft selected Southern Virginia. MBC will provide fiber routes for connectivity to major interconnection points in the Eastern U.S. Microsoft also chose Virginia for the low-cost electricity from Virginia Dominion Power.
This will change the face of southside Virginia! We are thrilled and believe it will bring in other high tech entities. We praise and thank Senator Frank Ruff, Governor McDonnell and the other members of the team for this magnificent accomplishment.
--Jimmie K. Crowder of South Hill, VA
Aug. 30, 2010 at 07:36 AM