Microsoft breaks ground on new data center in LaPorte

LaPorte leaders alongside Microsoft officials marked the official start of construction on the billion-dollar data center off Boyd Boulevard. Shovels hit the dirt on Wednesday to mark not only the start of construction but also a relationship between the City of LaPorte and one of the world’s biggest companies. "This is the first day in a literal sense of the rest of our lives of being part of Indiana," said Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair & President. It’s a day that has been in the works for years. City leaders joined Microsoft officials for the groundbreaking on the data center that will sit on 489 acres of land on the city's south side. The data center will support Microsoft services and the growth of AI. “Whether you're streaming a video, sharing a photograph sending an email looking up the weather finding out that it's raining today and she says you'll be relying on the data center that is going to be built right here,” said Smith. LaPorte Mayor Tom Dermody called the data center a "gamechanger" for the city. “It provides hope, opportunity, people said in 2020, we need something different, we need jobs, we need well-paying jobs,” said Dermody. “And I think we've checked about every box that's possible." Microsoft officials said they plan on giving back to the community and believe they'll help LaPorte schools become one of the most funded districts in the state. "Don't give us a reduction in the local property taxes charge us what we owe. We will pay every penny here in Laporte an awful lot of that goes to the local school corporation,” said Smith. We asked the mayor what he would want to say to those who opposed the project? “Think it's still going to take a while to see construction move forward, see the kids working here and the recognized how small the water is being used and how they're going to be, Microsoft's going to be a great community partner," said Dermody. Those community partners joined the city to celebrate phase one - six buildings being built over the next couple of years. “Soon you'll see cranes here soon. You'll see construction workers here and you're going to see the building go up fast,” said Smith. The first Microsoft Data Center building is planned for completion by spring of 2029 with another completed by mid-spring, and a third by that winter. _________________ Stay up to date by following our social media: WSBT 22 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WSBTNews WSBT 22 on X: https://twitter.com/WSBT WSBT 22 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wsbt/ For more information, visit https://wsbt.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to our newsroom: wsbtnews@wsbt.com WSBT is an IN based station and a CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets, after pending transactions. Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 38.7% of US television households and includes FOX, ABC, MyTV, CW, CBS, NBC, Univision and Azteca affiliates.