Google Inc. plans to invest up to $600 million to build a data center in Lenoir, N.C., to support Google's online operations and create as many as 210 jobs during the next four years. The company considered North Carolina in part because of the state Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG).

"The data center we're planning to build in Lenoir, N.C., will help support continued growth in our online services," said Lloyd Taylor, Director of Global Operations, Google Inc. "We look forward to joining the local community and are grateful for the support from the state and local governments throughout our evaluation process."

Wages at the Caldwell County facility will vary by job function, but the average wage is expected to be more than $48,300, not including benefits, which is substantially more than the county average of $27,300 without benefits.

The state's Economic Investment Committee voted unanimously last month to award a Job Development Investment Grant to the company to facilitate this project. Under the terms of the JDIG agreement approved by the committee, a 12-year grant will be established.

For each year that the company meets the required performance targets, the state will provide a grant equal to 75 percent of the state personal income withholding taxes derived from the creation of new jobs. If the company creates all of the jobs called for under the agreement and sustains them for 12 years, Google could receive a maximum benefit of $4.8 million. These plans are dependent on the outcome of final negotiations with the state.

Job Development Investment Grants are awarded only to new and expanding businesses and industrial projects whose benefits exceed the costs to the state and which would not be undertaken in North Carolina without the grant. T

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