The State of Wisconsin and the City of Kenosha announce the sale of approximately 240 acres of land northwest of Interstate 94 and Highway 142 to Microsoft. The site enhances the state and region’s capacity to support innovation and growth in the digital economy and continues Microsoft’s investment in the area.
“In Wisconsin, we’re continuing our work to harness AI, advance critical sectors like manufacturing, biohealth, and technology, and adapt to make sure our workforce, economy, and state can meet the demands of the 21st Century,” said Gov. Evers. “We’re excited about Microsoft’s decision to continue investing in the southeastern part of our state, which I’m proud has been a key focus for our economic support, development, and growth efforts.”
The City of Kenosha unanimously passed ordinances this past December to attach and rezone the property, paving the way for potential datacenter development.
“Today marks a transformative moment for the City of Kenosha as we proudly welcome Microsoft to our community,” said City of Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala. “This groundbreaking investment solidifies Kenosha’s position as a hub for innovation and economic growth. Opportunities created by development of this land — from job creation to strengthening our local economy — will resonate for generations to come. We are honored to work with Microsoft and look forward to future opportunities to collaborate, including joint research initiatives, talent development programs, and community engagement activities.”
Microsoft’s investment represents a significant milestone for Kenosha and continues to highlight the area’s appeal as a hub for technology and development.
“It’s exciting to welcome another world-class company to Kenosha County — the Gateway to Wisconsin,” said Samantha Kerkman, Kenosha County Executive. “This significant investment by Microsoft will have a major economic impact on our area, further growing our tax base and diversifying our economy. I’m proud to add Microsoft to the growing list of companies from around the world that are choosing to do business here.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Microsoft to Kenosha County and add one of the largest tech companies in the world to our roster of major international corporations,” said Nicole Ryf, Kenosha Area Business Alliance President. “Microsoft’s investment signals that the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor is gaining international attention for its strategic location, productive workforce, strong infrastructure, and pro-business climate, and Kenosha County is fortunate to be in the heart of it all.”
The land purchase in the City of Kenosha is in addition to Microsoft’s investment in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, announced in May 2024.
“We’re delighted that Microsoft continues to expand its commitment to the Milwaukee region,” said Gale Klappa, co-chair of Milwaukee 7 and Chairman of the Board of WEC Energy Group. “This additional investment – announced today – speaks volumes about our region as a home for innovative companies and a dynamic hub for advancement in technology.”
33 Responses
Data centers are excellent for construction jobs. Keep in mind data centers require few on site employees once building is operational.
It is good it is being build here, but wanted all to informed on the overall project.
100% and both the Kenosha / Mt Pleasant facilities will employ less than 1,000 people combined. Yippee! And these positions will only provide hands on maintenance, no real engineering slots so the pay will be less than $60k a year.
This comment is only indirectly ralared to this data center.
It was only a few years ago we shut down all these big power plants, like Pleasant Prairie. Now that all these are gone, these data centers and all these electric vehicles are really thirsty for electricity.
It seems we made a big mistake with our downsizing.
Current proposal being discussed is co-power, use of gas and coal, at the date center sites in addition to traditional supply.
I heard
Mini Nuclear Reactors
No bigger than a small Garage
See the link below.
https://inl.gov/trending-topics/microreactors/
The EPA, under Obama is what closed them. Was too expensive to get them within the EPA guidelines and too expensive to covert to NG, so let’s close them. Idiots!
It’s good news for the construction companies and workers involved in the project and depending on what type of incentives Tony Evers is giving it should be a good deal for Kenosha County.
Of course developments in the last day or so regarding China’s open source AI DeepSeek may prove a challenge to current U.S. funding.
So, will be enjoyable to hear those who were all NIMBY over the development in Mount Pleasant that has resulted in MicroSoft purchasing close to 2,000 acres.
Poor commentators on WLIP…………
Evers burns down downtown Kenosha …… and builds outside of town …. LOLOL …
Are they going to pay taxes on land? Try looking up U-Line, I cannot find anything about them paying taxes.
They don’t, they are in a TIF district.
When a Tax Increment District (TID) is created property owners within the district continue to pay the same property tax rates as those outside the district.
But the taxes don’t go to back to the city
Who or where does money go?
What kind of data center are we talking about? Considering DeepSeek launched today, this might be a very badly-timed announcement
Evers has the state going in the right direction
These are going to happen Democrat or Republican
Just like he did a “great” job with Foxconn?
We weren’t paying them anything for job credits because the weren’t making the numbers that Walker signed so what did worst governor Ever rewrite the contract to PAY Foxconn for lower employee numbers? Taxpayers are now on the hook for millions that we would never have been under the plan before.
Also, they announced the downsizing of their plant AFTER Evers became governor, because they knew he was an imbecile.
Thankfully Evers has ZERO POWER. The only reason WI is thriving is because the Republicans have complete power in the assembly, county, and now city. Look no further than to the empty business parks just across the border in Lake Co. Liberal controlled everything. A huge failure like every liberal run state.
Holding my breath waiting for the huge job creation from this shell. Waist of farm land. Kenosha is a changing, for the worse
They’ll just put a sh*t ton of solar panels there if this falls through.
What do you care……you abandoned your children and don’t live here.
Sara why do you always say that? I have a daughter that is twenty years old in college. One child. True I don’t live there but I still have interest in outcome.
I just want to see my taxes go down all these big companies in and coming to Kenosha. Making millions, they should pay their fair share if not more!
Lol yea right, taxes will continue to go up as long as Bogdala or any one of those idiots is mayor
That’s all we need-more Bill Gates in our area. What a load of crap
Is Kenosha low on pedos?
The land in Kenosha is so much cheaper than Lake County Illinois so that made you line come here and build 13 warehouses. By the way we cornered the market on the warehouse is in Kenosha still not sure what their deal was about paying tax. I got Microsoft who sucked up all this land. What kind of tax will they pay and then as far as the energy they burn a lot of energy so Kenosha and now you got Mount Pleasant burning up all this power when you have a Chinese company using cheaper chips but doing the same thing and they build they how many coal plants a month over there..
…. the Mt. Pleasant site “might” not happen.
Microsoft isn’t talking about it.
And solar won’t happen that close to everything else. The land is more valuable for other things
Rumor has it that Big Guy Kurt Shillson & Jonah Droop were in the vicinity scouting out a location for their next Organized Extortion Enterprise AKA 72-2.0.
Who were the previous land owners?
Used to be a nice rural area which will now turn to complete shit. Only people who live here will be able to enjoy the increases in traffic, pollution, and whatever else this progress brings us.
These huge data centers need water and electricity. They don’t need much in the way of people to run them. If they are going to generate their own power, looks like we’ll be stuck with the joke of car emissions testing that the rest of the state manages to avoid since the cars aren’t the problem anyway.
Fuck “progress.”