It has been almost a year since Microsoft originally purchased land in Licking County, but the tech giant has now acknowledged that it intends to construct data centers there.
Microsoft now owns more than 700 acres of land in Licking County after spending over $32 million to acquire 227 acres at 975 Thornwood Dr. in Heath. Microsoft also bought 197 acres of land in the Johnstown area of Licking County, three properties totaling 291 acres in Pataskala, and 16 acres in New Albany.
Microsoft declined to comment after acquiring the Johnstown property at 3287 Beech Road for the first time in June 2023. It verified intentions to build data centers in Licking County about a year later. In fact, a Microsoft spokesperson said that work had already started.
According to Microsoft’s Bowen Wallace, “Microsoft purchased this property in Licking County, Ohio, to support datacenter construction already underway in the area.”
Additional confirmation of the intentions may be found on Microsoft’s Central Ohio page, which also contains pledges to the Licking County community.
The website stated, “We look forward to actively participating in the community and investing in social programs that support our goals of promoting environmental sustainability and skill development and training for meaningful employment in the technology sector.”
Quick growth as technology becomes ingrained in Licking County
Since Intel moved to the area in 2022, Licking County and the neighboring areas have witnessed the beginning of a tech boom.
Since building on Intel’s $20 billion Ohio One facility in New Albany began, additional tech companies have moved into what the city refers to as its Silicon Heartland. The plant is expected to be completed between 2026 and 2027 and put into service between 2027 and 2028. Some of the organizations constructing data centers in the area are Google, DBT Data New Albany, and Amazon Data Services.
Investments in the community, including a $90 million project to fund local and state transportation upgrades, have resulted from the tech expansion in the area. Governor Mike DeWine stated that the project is closely related to Intel’s New Albany initiative when it was first unveiled in July 2023.
“When we announced Intel, we committed to building infrastructure and to help the local community build infrastructure that would handle the extra traffic from Intel and also the other traffic that is going to come from other companies that are coming to this region,” DeWine stated.
Furthermore, Columbus approved a 408-unit apartment project near New Albany in mid-December. The Moore’s Edge project by Columbus-based developer Thrive Companies bears the name of a co-founder of Intel, signifying the project’s close relationship with the computer chip company and highlighting its influence on regional development.