Racine County Board gives final vote of approval on Microsoft land deal

 

RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Microsoft's interest in Racine County grew by over 600 acres Tuesday night, after the county board voted unanimously in favor of a land deal. 

The deal allows the tech giant to add to its already-promised data center in Mount Pleasant.

A number of people spoke during public comment, including the village president of Mount Pleasant, who thanked the county board, saying even when things didn't go as planned with Foxconn, the county had Mount Pleasant's back, and now, it's all steam ahead. 

The vote to approve the land deal by the Racine County Board went through just as smoothly as it did by Monday night's Mount Pleasant board meeting.

"Offer thanks to all the people who've worked on this, because this doesn't happen without a whole lot of consensus-building and a whole lot of teamwork -- so, thank you," said Racine County Board Supervisor Nick Demske, District 1. 

Work in this area between highways 11 and KR got started in 2017 with the addition of Foxconn, but promises from that company didn't completely mature.

"We didn't get quite to where we thought that we would with Foxconn, but we were able to set the table for other developments to come as well, and when Microsoft knocked on the door, they liked what they saw," said Mt. Pleasant Village President David DeGroot.

"That was mostly farm fields and a little subdivision out there when we -- when this started back in 2018, and we, Mt. Pleasant, put the infrastructure in -- water, sewer, and We Energies brought in the electrical transformers out there," said Racine County Board Vice Chairman Tom Kramer.

Earlier this year, Microsoft moved in and purchased this space -- it's 315 acres off Highway KR, and Microsoft already has started putting up the first of many buildings for a new data center on the land.

"It's kind of like the field of dreams. If you build it, they'll come, and they did," said Kramer.

Now, Microsoft's adding this parcel, over 600 acres just off Highway 11 that's vacant land for now.

"It means jobs, it means economic opportunity, it means where there's always gonna be -- where Microsoft brings a job, there's gonna be a multiplier effect, and there's others. Where Microsoft goes, others follow," DeGroof said. 

In a written statement, a Microsoft spokesperson said, "Our data center campus investment plans with the Village of Mount Pleasant and Racine County are part of Microsoft's long-term commitment to the local communities in Wisconsin. We look forward to our work there."

Microsoft's expected to close on the property in late December, putting them on the tax rolls for Racine County as of Jan. 1.