Largest data center in Eastern US being built in Grand Rapids Metro (sales, 2015)

[mjlo]

http://http://www.mlive.com/business...art_river_home

Like said in the other thread the largest data center in the Eastern US is being built at the former Steelcase Pyramid. How do you all think this will impact the area?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by mjlo

http://http://www.mlive.com/business...art_river_home

Like said in the other thread the largest data center in the Eastern US is being built at the former Steelcase Pyramid. How do you all think this will impact the area?

I think it will either be HUGE or it will be so-so. As far as employment goes, it's another employer with 1000 semi-skilled technicians working in technology. This isn't exactly Alabama where that would be a huge windfall. We are fortunate to have quite a few employers in the area like that.

However, the presence of such a facility, one of a handful in the entire country, leapfrogs a bunch of peer cities in exposing the area to other data-rich users. If you don't think data is a big deal, put down your phone and shut off your wireless and try to read this post.

[mjlo]

When is the state legislature going to vote on this? I can't seem to figure that out.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by mjlo

When is the state legislature going to vote on this? I can't seem to figure that out.

The latest article I saw, Yonkers is hoping they can do it in committee and not have to go to the floor, which could be before Christmas. Otherwise I believe it will be after the first of the year.

[mjlo]

It sounds like they want to start moving in quickly, I hope they don't delay.

[Michigantown]

Get ready from increased wages in the IT/software fields.
Data center interests 'very techy' companies

[Indentured Servant]

I hope it happens....but a part of me says that when all is said and done, if it comes to fruition, it will not be the size investment that is being advertised. A part of me thinks that this is a ploy to get the change in laws for the tax breaks, but in 10 years it will not be a 5 billion dollar investment. Even if not and only turns out to be half of what is being said.....that is still great for the area.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Indentured Servant

I hope it happens....but a part of me says that when all is said and done, if it comes to fruition, it will not be the size investment that is being advertised. A part of me thinks that this is a ploy to get the change in laws for the tax breaks, but in 10 years it will not be a 5 billion dollar investment. Even if not and only turns out to be half of what is being said.....that is still great for the area.

I think it may actually end up being bigger than they are proposing, but yes it will probably take 10 years to build out (if they ever stop building out). When Switch first proposed their data centers in Nevada, they did not anticipate that they'd be up to almost 10 million square feet of data center space. And the need for data is only expected to increase in the next 10 years, exponentially. Look at all the things that phones and tablets can do now on the cloud even compared to 2 or 3 years ago. Imagine what the next 5 to 10 years will bring.

And there's plenty of land around the Steelcase Pyramid to expand.

http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/ap...54.fullarticle

[magellan]

Late last night legislators signed the sales and use tax exemption bills (they dropped the personal property tax bill) for all data centers in Michigan to make this a reality. Switch has verified that it's a done deal. As long as Snyder signs, construction should begin after the 1st of the year on the old Pyramid building and at least one NAP facility. Each one of these is about 400,000 square feet.

Michigan House, Senate vote for tax breaks to land Switch data center | MLive.com

[mjlo]

Yay! I was worried about this one because of the states historic inability to be innovative and get out of it's own way. I've been stuck in a meeting all morning and hadn't heard that it passed yet.