Throughout a latest press convention attended by Kansas Metropolis Mayor, Quinton Lucas, and Missouri Governor, Mike Parson, Google’s Monique Picou — international govt vice chairman of product, know-how, technique, and international server operations — introduced that the tech big deliberate to make an preliminary funding of $1 billion within the growth of a brand new information heart in KCMO.
“Now we have reached an essential inflection level for tech innovation like AI, and information facilities are the spine of this progress,” Picou mentioned. “Our announcement immediately is a testomony to the assets, expertise, and welcoming spirit of the Kansas Metropolis neighborhood. Collectively, Kansas Metropolis and Google will assist energy America’s digital future and we’re excited to contribute to the brilliant way forward for the area.”
Google has reportedly been making ready for this growth since 2019, when it first began buying lots of of acres of land in Kansas Metropolis’s Northland. Along with this infrastructure growth within the Midwest, Picou additionally introduced a number of neighborhood and administration partnership initiatives which can be slated for launch within the close to future.
Neighborhood coaching plans embrace bringing its Expert Trades and Readiness (STAR) program to the world. In collaboration with the Missouri Works Initiative and the City League, this program will assist enhance the entry-level pipeline for members of underrepresented communities. STAR pre-employment applications are paid coaching and provide networking alternatives to assist contributors transfer straight into employment on native initiatives.
Moreover, Picou introduced the creation of a talented commerce profession growth program geared toward educating highschool college students within the problem-solving abilities and digital competencies required to arrange for the roles of the longer term. Particularly, Google will assist the North Kansas Metropolis Faculty District with a greater than $100,000 contribution to the STEAM heart.
The Google consultant additionally outlined the corporate’s plans to work with regionally based mostly utility firm Evergy to energy the longer term Kansas Metropolis information heart. Moreover, as a part of the corporate’s formidable objective to run on 24/7 carbon-free power, Google will associate with Ranger Energy and D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) to convey 400 megawatts of recent, carbon-free power to the grid from Missouri-based Beavertail Photo voltaic farm, which is situated in a former coal neighborhood.
“Google’s main funding in Kansas Metropolis could have a number of constructive impacts long run,” mentioned Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas Metropolis Space Improvement Council. “Not solely will the tech firm make investments lots of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} benefitting our area’s economic system in myriad methods, however Google’s international model will now be straight linked to KC’s rising model.”
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Final modified: April 3, 2024

