Microsoft's $1bn Mount Pleasant facility receives Village Board approval

Microsoft has announced its plans to expand in Wisconsin, with a $1 billion data center campus in Mount Pleasant. The plan, discussed at a recent closed session meeting, outlined that the campus will be situated on a 315-acre parcel of land owned by the Village of Mount Pleasant. Microsoft is set to pay $50 million to Mount Pleasant for the land.

The proposal was announced by the Village of Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Racine County Economic Development Corporation, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The land is reportedly part of a wider 2,500-acre plot allocated for a $10bn Foxconn manufacturing hub, which was set to employ 13,000 people, and receive $4.8 billion worth of tax breaks. However, the Foxconn project has failed to materialize. 

Mount Pleasant Board President Dave DeGroot outlined that he believed the project will not only be good for Mount Pleasant financially, but he also expects it will serve as a "magnet to attract high-level growth to Mount Pleasant." He explained that the giant was attracted to the location due to it being "primed" for development." Speaking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he said: "Through local investments, we have transformed this area of Mount Pleasant and equipped it with the infrastructure necessary to support a major investment by Microsoft."

The vote for the village board was held on Thursday and approved unanimously; however, it now has to pass two Racine County Board votes on April 11 and 18.