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Googling announced Friday that it will invest $1 billion over the next two years to expand its data center infrastructure in North Carolina.
The investment will focus on the expansion of a data center facility in Lenoir, North Carolina. Google has had a presence in the area between the data center and an office in Durham for fifteen years.
The Google data center in Lenoir will support Google services including Maps, Photos, Search, Workspace, YouTube and more, according to the announcement.
“Google’s latest investment in the City of Lenoir and Caldwell County underscores a deep commitment to North Carolina’s continued growth and success,” said City of Lenoir Mayor Joseph Gibbons. “This funding will grow our workforce, expand economic development opportunities and ensure North Carolina remains a leader in innovation.”
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Data centers are an integral part of the modern internet and have become increasingly prominent with the rise of AI. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Randy Church, chairman of the Caldwell County Commission, said investments like this one from Google are “critical to strengthening our community” and added that it will “provide new opportunities for local workers and help the long-term economic success in our region.”
In addition to Google’s investments in data centersthe company announced it will donate $2 million to an Energy Impact Fund in partnership with Blue Ridge Community Action, Blue Ridge Energy and Advanced Energy.
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Google has had a presence in Lenoir, North Carolina and in Durham for 15 years, the announcement said. (Marlena Sloss/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The fund will help scale and accelerate energy initiatives in Caldwell County, focusing on energy affordability, weatherization upgrades and energy efficiency for both low- and moderate-income households and K-12 schools. Rising electricity costs are partly driven by increased demand from data centers, especially in the current environment artificial intelligence (AI) tree.
Google’s funding will also help expand existing community solar programs, reduce energy burdens and promote access to renewable energy for county residents.
Jon Jacob, director of marketing for Blue Ridge Energy, said Google’s support is a “perfect reflection of our cooperative spirit: members helping members, supported by a partner who shares our commitment to improving life for our local community.”
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| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOOGL | ALPHABET INC. | 302.28 | -1.27 |
-0.42% |
Other community investments from Google included in the announcement include a three-year, $270,000 grant to Communities In Schools of Caldwell County (CISCC).
The funds will establish the CISCC Workforce Development & Digital Equity Fund, which will partner with the local schools and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute (CCC&TI) to reduce technological and financial barriers for students pursuing vocational training through 2027.
Mark Poarch, president of CCC&TI, said the partnership “ensures local students have the resources they need to transition seamlessly into the workforce. This fund is more than a grant; it is an investment in the long-term resilience and economic vitality of our entire community.”
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In addition, the investments also include a $100,000 donation to the city of Lenoir to renovate the city’s historic high school.
