Despite rumors that Microsoft Corp. may be interested in Catawba County for a data center, there has been no confirmation from any participating party.
"To my knowledge, there have been no looks by Microsoft," said Scott Millar, president of the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation.
The Charlotte Business Journal reported Friday that Microsoft is considering a data center on the East Coast, and is considering a location in Virginia or North Carolina. According to the Journal, Microsoft looked at the former Carolina Mills building in Maiden, which is about 140,000 square feet. The building could be expanded to 500,000 square feet.
The Hickory Daily Record asked Microsoft on Friday if the company was looking to build a data center in either Virginia or Maiden, or if any company representatives had been to Catawba County recently to look at possible sites. A Microsoft spokesman said the company had "no information to share on the subject."
Millar said the Economic Development Corporation has had inquiries and looks by companies at property near where Apple is building, near the intersection of U.S. 321 and Startown Road in Maiden, ever since the company announced it was coming. He said sometimes he knows who the companies are and sometimes he doesn't.
"If there was a company that was looking seriously, though, we would know about it," Millar said.
That being said, Millar said there are several structural advantages to another data center being built near Apple's location. They include a lower cost of power, large volumes of reliable power and a local government that is familiar with what a data center is.
"We've been recruiting this type of industry for three or four years now," Millar said. "In our state, we have competitive incentives for data centers. There are lots of reasons for data centers to come here."
He said there are reasons why Apple and Google, which has a facility in nearby Caldwell County, have chosen to come to the area.
The $1 billion Apple data center was lured to Catawba County with $20.7 million in city and county tax breaks over 10 years, and another $46 million in incentives from the state over 10 years.
"We would welcome Microsoft if they were interested, but I don't know anything about it," Millar said.
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