(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) announced on Friday it plans to open its most advanced data center in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
The company will invest up to $499 million, making it the largest investment project in Southern Virginia’s history.
Located in Boydton Industrial Park, the “Gen 4″ Microsoft data center build will create 50 jobs.
“This new data center will enable the best possible delivery of services to our current and future customers,” says Kevin Timmons, general manager of Microsoft Datacenter Services. “My team and I look forward to engaging in the deployment of our latest modular solution in Virginia.”
Virginia ousted North Carolina and Texas, who were also in the running for the massive data center build.
Both states offered multiple incentives for Microsoft to build the data center in their state, including a low-cost operating environment, access to a major fiber optic network and reliable and environmentally responsible electricity sources.
Governor Bob McDonnell approved a $2.1 million grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to help Mecklenburg County, while the Virginia Tobacco Commission provided on an additional $4.8 million grant.
Virginia eventually secured the deal by collaborating between the Mecklenburg County, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative and Dominion Virginia Power.
The advanced fiber optic network will provide diverse fiber routes to connect to major carrier interconnection points in the eastern United States.
The network will be able to support the high capacity, diverse routing and low latency requirements of the new Microsoft data center.
