Lenoir Google facility will expand

By Scott Nicholson

The Internet giant Google is expanding its data center in Lenoir.

Google is expanding its 220-acre site in Lenoir with the acquisition of six parcels of land west of the main site, adding about 60 acres to the site, company officials recently announced.

The property expands Google’s $600 million data center in Caldwell County, a center expected to bring more high-tech jobs to the region.

Google purchased the 60-acre property for $3.13 million. Though there aren’t any immediate plans for the property, some possibilities could be to support the needs of the data center operations and the gradual expansion of data center capacity as previously announced for the Google campus.

The Internet information giant expects to create 210 jobs at the plant, with local business leaders and educators expecting the plant to have an impact on Watauga County. The average salary at the plant is expected to be around $48,000.

Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute teamed with Google in an alliance last year to develop a specific training program geared toward preparing people for jobs in such industries.

CCC&TI has been offering a 129-hour training course focuses on hands-on and real-world problems, with a heavy emphasis on communication skills. In addition to training and instruction in the most modern technical skills, it adds team-building exercises, interviewing and self-management to the portfolio.

Though the curriculum was designed in consultation with Google, completion doesn’t automatically guarantee a job there. However, the skills can be applied to a varied of jobs. positions at hospitals, local governments and other manufacturers and businesses.

Tom Jacobik, manager of the data center in Lenoir, added, “Everyone at Google is very happy about our North Carolina operation. We’ve been working hard and really appreciate the community’s support. This is a strategic location for our company. We look forward to a long and active presence here.”

Google is currently operating two 125,000-square foot facilities on the property. It received an estimated $100 million worth of tax breaks and economic incentives to place the plant in Lenoir.