Business

Google building a second data center in Council Bluffs

KIOS

Published April 24, 2012 at 2:20 PM CDT

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Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad speaks at a news conference Tuesday announcing Google's second data center in Council Bluffs.

photo by Katie Schubert/KIOS-FM

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Hard hats and vests are prepared for the data center groundbreaking.

photo by Katie Schubert/KIOS-FM

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A Google Council Bluffs sign welcomes officials to the groundbreaking.

photo by Katie Schubert/KIOS-FM

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Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Photo by Katie Schubert/KIOS-FM

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Officials prepare to 'wave the flag' to start construction on the new data center.

photo by Katie Schubert/KIOS-FM

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Crews move in to position to break ground for the new data center.

photo by Katie Schubert/KIOS-FM

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Crews break ground at the site of Google's new data center.

photo by Katie Schubert/KIOS-FM

Internet giant Google is building its second data center in five years in Council Bluffs.

Google employees were joined by Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds at the ground-breaking Tuesday. The $300 million data center will create at least 50 jobs.

Mayor Hanafan says the Internet giant’s investment has changed the city and the state of Iowa, and improved the economy.

Google’s first data center in Council Bluffs opened four years ago at a cost of $600 million, bringing the company’s total investment in Iowa to $900 million.

The new data center will house infrastructure that supports Google’s mail and maps programs, as well as new products.