Google awards Buffalo $200k in grants ahead of data center project
Google has awarded $200,000 in grants to schools and organizations in Putnam County, West Virginia, ahead of its planned data center project. While the grants are welcomed by some, the data center project itself has faced ongoing opposition from residents concerned about water usage and farmland impact.
Google has awarded $200,000 in grants to local schools and organizations in Putnam County, West Virginia, in anticipation of its planned data center complex groundbreaking. A Google spokesperson confirmed the grants, which follow the company's purchase of land in the area for a data center campus.
Some of the funds are directed to Buffalo High School, covering athletic event tickets for all students in the upcoming school year. Morgan Tinney, Director of the Putnam County Development Authority, noted that this marks Google's first community investment prior to breaking ground, emphasizing that the authority was involved to ensure the funding addressed specific community needs.
Despite the positive reception for the grants, the data center project itself has encountered mixed opinions from residents since its announcement in March. Concerns have been raised regarding water usage, the allocation of tax money, and the potential for the development to overtake local farmland. Some residents have organized meetings to voice their frustrations.
Buffalo High School Principal Josh Isaacs urged residents to set aside their opposition in this context, highlighting the immediate benefits these opportunities provide to students. The Putnam Development Authority indicated that this initial round of grants is not the last, with Google intending to roll out more funding in the future.