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Google buys 500 acres for data centers in Kansas City

“We want to ensure that we have the option to further grow”

Google Buys 500 Acres for Data Centers in Kansas City
Sundar Pichai and an aerial view of US-169 & NW 124th St in Kansas City, Missouri (Getty, Google Maps)

Google last week bought nearly 500 acres for data center development in Kansas City.

The tech giant’s latest land acquisition in the city’s Northland brings its total portfolio in the area to 808 acres, the Kansas City Business Journal reported. Details for the size and scope of the planned data center campus are unknown.

“While we do not have a confirmed timeline for development for the site, we want to ensure that we have the option to further grow, should our business demand it,” a spokesperson for Google told the outlet.

The purchase price for Google’s new addition was not disclosed in public records, but the company has historically dropped hundreds of millions of dollars on data center development. Google opened 12 data centers in the U.S. between 2006 and 2019, spending $17.5 billion, the outlet reported. 

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In a Dallas suburb, the tech juggernaut is building a $600 million data center called Red Oak, which will power services like Google Cloud, Maps and Workspace Search. It’s Google’s second data center in Texas, and the firm hasn’t been shy about targeting the Lone Star state for growth. 

“We’re going to continue to grow and expand here in Texas. It’s the talent, infrastructure, business-friendly environment, ecosystem and partners that are so willing to support and help us,” Google’s Cris Turner told the Dallas Morning News in August. 

Kansas City is also creating a business friendly environment to entice data center development. The Port of Kansas City is providing significant tax abatements for other data center projects in the area, according to the Business Journal.

“Port KC is beyond excited to be a part of such a project that carries future possibilities of investment and growth in KC,” Jon Stephens, the Port’s CEO told the outlet.

–– Kate Hinsche

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