Spotlight Google to invest $1 billion to expand Caldwell County data center; may add jobs Desiree Mathurin The Charlotte Observer Mar 17, 2026 Mar 17, 2026 Updated 13 hrs ago 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save With a $1 billion investment, Google is planning to expand its data center operations in Caldwell County.kAm%96 E649 8:2?E 2??@F?465 E96 255:E:@?2= :?G6DE>6?E :? :ED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492C=@EE6@3D6CG6C]4@>^?6HD^3FD:?6DD^2CE:4=6b`ab_edge]9E>=Q C6=lQu@==@HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm{6?@:C 52E2 46?E6Ck^2m @? |2C49 `b]k^AmkAm(:E9 E96 :?G6DE>6?E[ v@@8=6 :?E6?5D E@ 8C@H :ED 42>AFD 2?5 A@E6?E:2==J 9:C6 >@C6 6>A=@J66D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 ?6HD C6=62D6 7C@> v@@8=6] rFCC6?E=J[ c__ A6@A=6 H@C< 2E E96 46?E6C]k^Am kAm}@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 r92C=@EE6 C68:@?[ :D 364@>:?8 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492C=@EE6@3D6CG6C]4@>^?6HD^3FD:?6DD^2CE:4=6b`ab_edge]9E>=Q C6=lQu@==@HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9@E365 7@C 52E2 46?E6C 6IA2?D:@?k^2m 2>:5 2 >2DD:G6 DFC86 :? 56>2?5 7F6=65 3J px FD286] qFE E96C6’D 2=D@ 366? 2 C:D6 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492C=@EE6@3D6CG6C]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^2CE:4=6b`acafg`_]9E>=Q C6=lQu@==@HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@AA@D:E:@? 3J C6D:56?EDk^2m 4@?46C?65 23@FE E96:C 6?6C8J FD286 2?5 @E96C :DDF6D]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 Compassion Care Services in Marion celebrates opening; provides services for adults with disabilities 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 McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal Marion man charged with assaulting woman and sheriff's lieutenant Amtrak’s western North Carolina expansion: Bringing passenger rail back to Asheville and beyond McDowell County nonprofit seeking grant to help incarcerated parents and their children Author of book on lost NC towns coming to downtown Marion for Women’s History Month US housing secretary, congressman visit Marion to talk about Clinchfield apartment project Old Fort’s B Side Bakery & Books offers fresh made breads, books and more Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race James Haney, historian and 'Southern gentleman,' remembered for devotion to McDowell County history Marion dam gets $2.7 million for repairs; dam behind condemned Westwood Chateau apartments The Google Data Center during the beginning stages of construction in Lenoir in 2008. 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CFC2= #:49>@?5 r@F?EJ]k^Am The Google data center site in a photo from 2008. ROBERT C. REED, HICKORY DAILY RECORD FILE kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492C=@EE6@3D6CG6C]4@>^?6HD^3FD:?6DD^2CE:4=6b`d_``c`e]9E>=Q C6=lQu@==@HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmx? r92C=@EE6k^2m[ %6I2D\32D65 s:8:E2= #62=EJ A=2?D E@ <?@4< 5@H? 2 A2:C @7 46?EFCJ\@=5 @77:46 3F:=5:?8D E@ 4@?DECF4E 2 7@FC\DE@CJ[ `a >682H2EE 52E2 46?E6C @? t2DE %C256 $EC66E 4@G6C:?8 ?62C=J E96 6?E:C6 3=@4<] xE 2=D@ :?E6?5D E@ @A6? H92E H@F=5 36 E96 C68:@?’D =2C86DE 52E2 46?E6C 42>AFD :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492C=@EE6@3D6CG6C]4@>^?6HD^3FD:?6DD^2CE:4=6b_cdcaehe]9E>=Q C6=lQu@==@HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH6DE r92C=@EE6 2E c__ >682H2EED 2?5 b >:==:@? DBF2C6 766Ek^2m]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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