New Cedar Rapids Data Center Would be Bigger Than Google

Earlier this year it was revealed that Google was proposing a $576 million data center in Cedar Rapids. It would be the largest development project in the history of the city of Cedar Rapids. That record may not last very long.

The Corridor Business Journal reports that a new proposed data center near Cedar Rapids would surpass the size and scope of the Google-backed project as the largest economic development project ever. The price tag? $750 million. The CBJ reports that the project is being proposed by a Delaware developer identified as SNA LLC. However, the ultimate owner and operator of the center has not been made public.

The project would be constructed along 76th Ave SW, just to the west of the proposed Google site according to the CBJ. Cedar Rapids city officials say the site would sit on 560 acres. Construction on the first of three phases would begin within three years of a development agreement. A second phase would begin within three years of the completion of the first phase.

The CBJ reports that a number of attractive financial incentives will be offered including a 20-year 70% rebate of property taxes generated by each phase of development. A 20-year 75% rebate of franchise fees per data center. In return, the CBJ reports the company would provide economic betterment payments to the city to be used for development activities. Those payments would be $300,000 per project phase, for 20 years apiece, totaling $18 million.

The CBJ reports that a formal development agreement for the new data center will be presented to the city council later this year.

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