GRAND RAPIDS – As reported last week by MIBiz.Com, construction is underway at SUPERNAP Michigan, the facility that will be built by data center storage company Switch, which received quick legislative relief from certain taxes toward the end of last year after the company noted its interest in Michigan.
The decision to exempt collocated data centers in the state from the sales and use taxes marked the first time since the Corporate Income Tax took effect in 2012 that the state changed its tax laws to woo a specific business. Business groups were deeply divided on the change, with some supporting it and others saying it was an insult to long-time, loyal Michigan businesses.
Regardless, SUPERNAP Michigan will be the largest facility of its kind in the eastern United States when complete.
The facility is to be housed at the former Steelcase Pyramid site near Grand Rapids. The initial construction budget remains $400 million, spokesperson Roger Martin of Martin Waymire said in an e-mail. Though that will likely exceed $1 billion over time, the company is meeting its build-out goals and timelines, he said, and is on schedule to open later this year.
The Christman Company is the, lead contractor on the facility, and more than 70 workers from 25 West Michigan companies are currently at the now-Switch Pyramid site Martin noted (hiring locally was a condition added late to the law that allows Switch to not have to pay certain taxes).
Finally, the company is working with Consumers Energy to make SUPERNAP Michigan entirely powered by renewable energy, Martin said.
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