Might Berrien County see billions of {dollars} in funding due to giant knowledge facilities? State Consultant Joey Andrews and Berrien County Commissioner Chokwe Pitchford suppose so.
Andrews and Pitchford addressed the Benton Harbor Space Faculties Board of Schooling this week to hunt assist for laws that may create a tax exemption on gear at knowledge facilities to make the state extra engaging to tech firms. Andrews stated these operations spend billions on gear.
“The rationale for the exemption is as a result of the info facilities, they’re large server warehouses primarily, and the servers burn out rapidly due to the use,” Andrews stated. “So, it’s uneconomical for them to construct a knowledge middle with out having an exemption to rebuy the servers continually.”
Talking later to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, Pitchford stated with the rise of A.I. and the whole lot else taking place within the tech sector, the large firms like Google and Meta have an amazing want for space for storing, they usually’re taking a look at Michigan. He says one $3 billion middle can be big for the realm.
“A giant, huge increase for the realm,” Pitchford stated. “$21 million for the Benton Harbor Space Faculties. $12 million or $16 million estimated for Benton Township. About $4 million for the county if it is available in at round $3 billion in investments.”
Andrews stated giant knowledge facilities are normally multi billion greenback tasks, and one developer is presently exploring a website in Benton Township. If that growth occurs, he stated the lack of tax income from a potential devaluation of the Cook dinner plant can be recouped by native governments.
Andrews added the continued work by Peninsula Fiber and 123 Internet to construct a fiber connection between Chicago and Michigan, a lot of it working beneath Lake Michigan, make the realm ultimate for any firm constructing a knowledge middle.
The Benton Harbor Faculty Board then authorised a letter of assist for the tax laws.
