COLUMBUS, Ohio — Licking County could soon be home to three new data center campuses through an investment by Microsoft.
One Columbus announced details of the project's first phase on Monday, revealing an initial $1 billion investment on facilities in New Albany, Heath and Hebron.
The project will serve as the backbone for cloud computing platform Microsoft Azure’s capabilities as the demand for data storage and cloud technology increases.
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"We are excited to be starting our datacenter development in Ohio. We are grateful for the support from the leadership of the communities of New Albany, Heath, and Hebron in welcoming us, and we are looking forward to engaging with them and contributing to the area’s economic development," a spokesperson with Microsoft said. "Microsoft datacenters represent a capital-intensive investment and long-term commitment to the community, bringing hundreds of highly skilled full-time and contractor jobs to build and operate our datacenters.”
Microsoft announced earlier this month that it was constructing a data center in New Albany over the next few years. The 245,000-square-foot data center will be built on nearly 200 acres on Beech Road and will cost $420 million to construct.
New Albany City Council unanimously passed a resolution giving the tech giant a 100% property tax abatement for 15 years.
The locations in Hebron and Heath are pending approval.
Both mayors of Hebron and Heath expressed their excitement for the investment.
“We are excited to welcome Microsoft to Heath,” Heath Mayor Mark Johns said. “Their decision to invest here not only brings an immediate economic boost but also positions our community as a vital part of the region’s digital infrastructure.”
“We are proud that Hebron has been selected as one of the sites for Microsoft’s latest investment,” Mayor of Hebron Valerie Mockus said. “This project will create lasting value for our community and further demonstrate Hebron’s ability to support large-scale, cutting-edge technology projects.”
The project has potential to create hundreds of direct jobs if the campuses reach full capacity, Microsoft said. During the construction process for the facilities, Microsoft expects as many as 400 construction jobs on an annual basis.
The timeline for the project has not yet been announced as it depends on design, planning and the permitting process.