Google: Storey Co. data center to be complete this year

According to Google's 2021 investment outlook, the company's Henderson data center is now operational, with plans to expand it; meanwhile, the Storey County data center is planned to open this year. Go to bit.ly/3cTIBVj to read the full post.

According to Google's 2021 investment outlook, the company's Henderson data center is now operational, with plans to expand it; meanwhile, the Storey County data center is planned to open this year. Go to bit.ly/3cTIBVj to read the full post. Courtesy Google

NNBW staff report

Monday, March 22, 2021

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Last week, Google announced plans to invest more than $7 billion in offices and data centers and create at least 10,000 new full time Google jobs across the United States this year, including continued plans for the Silver State.

“I believe a lasting economic recovery will come from local communities, and the people and small businesses that give them life. Google wants to be a part of that recovery,” Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, wrote in a March 18 blog post outlining the company’s 2021 plans.

Google has had a Nevada presence since 2019 when it broke ground on a $600 million data center investment in Henderson.

Last year, the company announced an additional $600 million investment in Storey County and that it will be expanding its Henderson facility by an additional $600 million, bringing its total investment in Nevada to $1.8 billion.

According to previous reports, the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development in September 2020 OK’d roughly $25 million in tax abatements for Google’s planned project in Storey County’s Tahoe-Reno Industrial Park (which houses the Tesla Gigafactory). The project is expected to be completed this year.

“Google’s decision to expand their operations and footprint in Nevada has been a boon for our economic development efforts,” GOED Executive Director Michael Brown said in a March 18 statement. “Google is an excellent example of the companies we are pursuing from the capital investment they are making to the wages they are paying.”

Of note, the GOED board previously approved $25 million in tax abatements for Google’s Henderson project in late 2018.

In addition to data center creation, in both Southern and Northern Nevada, Google intends to award hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in grants to local school districts and municipalities “to grow and support faster, more reliable access to the internet,” according to a March 18 press release.

“I’m pleased that Google continues to invest in Nevada, particularly when it comes to adding value to our local school districts’ students and educators,” Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said in statement. “Having companies like Google invest in our state and expand connectivity sends a clear signal that Nevada is open for business and ready to diversify our economy and create jobs.”

Google also is committed to supporting public educators by providing 10,000 “Educator Level 1 Certifications” for educators to grow their proficiency and skills using Google tools in their classrooms, according to the March 18 press release.

“All Nevadans need access to fast, reliable internet access, whether it is to help them keep up with school assignments or to support their small businesses,” U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) said in a statement. “This is a critical investment that will help the Silver State improve its connectivity, support high-tech education, and protect jobs at companies increasingly turning to online commerce. I’ll continue to advocate for investments that support Nevada educators and students, grow our small businesses, and help our state excel in today’s economy.”

Also on March 18, Google released its 2020 Economic Impact Report, sharing how 24,100 Nevada businesses, publishers and nonprofits used Google search and advertising tools to increase their online presence and to connect with the people and communities they serve in 2020 — generating $2.92 billion in economic activity.

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