Press Release Archive
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Governor Culver Announces West Des Moines For New Microsoft Data Center
(DES MOINES, IA) — Governor Chet Culver, Microsoft and the Iowa Department of Economic Development announced today that the City of West Des Moines will serve as the site of Microsoft Corporation’s newest data center. The site is located southwest of the Booneville Road and Xavier Place intersection. In attendance at the event was a contingent of Microsoft executives, Sen. Chuck Grassley, Rep. Leonard Boswell, State Sen. Mike Gronstal, legislators, and West Des Moines community leaders.
"We are very proud to welcome Microsoft to Iowa," said Governor Chet Culver. “In making its decision, Microsoft recognized what we in Iowa have known all along – our workforce and quality of life makes Iowa the best place for business. I am absolutely committed to bringing high-quality, innovative jobs to Iowa and with Microsoft’s help, we’re doing just that. We look forward to working with Microsoft in the coming months and giving a tremendous boost to our state and local economy.”
The data center, described as the place “where the internet lives,” is expected to house large-scale, worldwide Web services for Microsoft's online services business. With the growth of audio and video applications, social Web sites, mobile devices and other Internet demands, data centers are becoming increasingly important as companies strive to increase online computing support centers to provide users with enhanced Web services.
“Microsoft selected Iowa after evaluating a number of locations across the country,” said Michael Manos, Microsoft’s general manager, data center services. “Iowa provided the best all-around combination of attributes that we evaluate in an important selection such as this. The Data Center will be a great investment for Iowa, Microsoft and all our on-line customers.”
"The City of West Des Moines is honored that Microsoft has selected our City for their Iowa location, said West Des Moines Councilwoman Loretta Sieman. “I feel that this sends a strong message that Iowa, the Des Moines Metro area, and West Des Moines are great locations for technology businesses. The region possesses all of the right tools to be a technology leader, including a skilled workforce, infrastructure, and land, and Microsoft's decision to link their name and reputation to our area confirms that."
“Microsoft’s decision to build a data center in West Des Moines is great news for the entire region and verifies the competitive advantages Greater Des Moines offers,” says Martha Willits, president and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “The region boasts available land, access to reasonably priced power, connectivity to state-of-the-art fiber optics, and a highly-educated workforce that will help Microsoft achieve its goals in Central Iowa.”
Microsoft, a worldwide leader in software development, was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Redmond, Washington. The Fortune 500 Company employs over 91,000 and reported net revenues of $60.42 billion in 2008.