Spotlight Microsoft resumes work on $1B data center project in Catawba County after delays Desiree Mathurin and Catherine Muccigrosso The Charlotte Observer Mar 20, 2026 Mar 20, 2026 Updated 25 mins ago 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save After a 10-month delay, Microsoft has begun work on its $1 billion data center projects in Catawba County.kAm$6G6C2= 4@>>6C4:2= 3F:=5:?8 A6C>:ED H6C6 :DDF65 E@ E96 E649 8:2?E 36EH66? }@G6>36C 2?5 s646>36C 7@C D:E6D :? r@?@G6C[ w:4<@CJ[ |2:56? 2?5 }6HE@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@\42E2H32\?4]D>2CE8@G4@>>F?:EJ]4@>^!2C46=D^!2C46=s6E2:=^x?56I^bf_g_67g\f232\c5ec\ge77\3_4c_`bcd`b4n04@?Gl`R56E2:=\D64E:@?Q C6=lQu@==@HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr2E2H32 r@F?EJ A6C>:E C64@C5Dk^2m] %96 A6C>:ED H6C6 4@?7:C>65 %9FCD52J 3J $4@EE |:==2C[ AC6D:56?E @7 E92E r2E2H32 r@F?EJ t4@?@>:4 s6G6=@A>6?E r@CA]k^Am kAmp k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492C=@EE6@3D6CG6C]4@>^?6HD^3FD:?6DD^2CE:4=6b`ab_edge]9E>=Q C6=lQu@==@HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH2G6 @7 52E2 46?E6CDk^2m 2C6 DH66A:?8 24C@DD E96 r2C@=:?2D[ H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492C=@EE6@3D6CG6C]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^2CE:4=6abg`ehefc]9E>=Q C6=lQu@==@HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE96 r92C=@EE6 C68:@?k^2m 364@>:?8 2 46?EC2= 9F3[ AC:>2C:=J 5C:G6? 3J E96 6IA=@D:@? @7 E96 px :?5FDECJ 2?5 ?665 7@C 9JA6CD42=6 52E2 46?E6CD] %92E 8C@HE9[ 2?5 E96 D64C64J @7E6? 369:?5 62C=J 56G6=@A>6?E A=2?D[ 92G6 =65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492C=@EE6@3D6CG6C]4@>^?6HD^3FD:?6DD^56G6=@A>6?E^2CE:4=6b`a_dfbde]9E>=Q C6=lQu@==@HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm>2?J 2C62 C6D:56?ED E@ @AA@D6 E96>k^2m]k^Am People are also reading… Man "involved in a shooting" Friday evening found, McDowell sheriff's office says Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Marion man charged with assaulting woman and sheriff's lieutenant Owner of Old Fort's Stuckey’s, Dairy Queen hopes to reopen as soon as possible after fire Marion man arrested, charged in Friday shooting in McDowell County that injured one Man found dead along Interstate 40 in Burke County; Medical examiner notified McDowell County Schools superintendent: Planning for a new school Spring Craft Crawl coming up in downtown Marion. Here's where and when. Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race Amtrak’s western North Carolina expansion: Bringing passenger rail back to Asheville and beyond NC Gov. Stein kicks off rural listening tour in McDowell County, visits Marion business US housing secretary, congressman visit Marion to talk about Clinchfield apartment project McDowell County nonprofit seeking grant to help incarcerated parents and their children Compassion Care Services in Marion celebrates opening; provides services for adults with disabilities Special event in Asheville to support WNC farmers, food hubs kAm{2DE pAC:=[ |:4C@D@7E 2??@F?465 E92E :E H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492C=@EE6@3D6CG6C]4@>^?6HD^3FD:?6DD^2CE:4=6b_cadeg_e]9E>=Q C6=lQu@==@HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm56=2J:?8 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 E96 AC@;64Ek^2m :? E96 4@F?EJ 7@C 2? 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