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In collaboration with Google, Botetourt County has announced progress on Google’s planned data center campus at the Botetourt Center at Greenfield, marking a transformative investment in the County’s economic future while reinforcing its commitment to responsible development.
In June 2025, Google purchased approximately 312 acres for $14 million and committed an additional $4 million to support County initiatives over the next five years. These projects are already delivering benefits to the community.
Google will now join five existing manufacturers as the next member of the Botetourt Corporate Family. Google will be located in the Botetourt Center at Greenfield, the only location in the County zoned for data centers.
As development progresses, the incremental tax base for each of the three data centers in this campus is expected to yield at least $10 million in annual local taxation. This creates a stable revenue source for the long-term needs of the County. Priorities such as public safety, school infrastructure, and other County amenities may be realized as a result of this capital infusion. In addition, Google will pay for 100% of the power and water costs necessary for the project. These upgrades will also bolster the region’s utilities as a whole. Beyond infrastructure investment, Google also partners with local workforce and education organizations to help expand training opportunities for skilled trades and technology careers, including access to no-cost Google Career Certificate programs. These upgrades will also bolster the region’s utilities as a whole. Beyond infrastructure investment, Google also partners with local workforce and education organizations to help expand training opportunities for skilled trades and technology careers, including access to no-cost Google Career Certificate programs.
“This is a generational opportunity to strengthen the County’s financial future, while also focusing development in areas specifically designed for industry,” said Mac Scothorn, Chair of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors. “Google’s presence will help position Botetourt County as a leader in the digital economy, while holding onto our rural character.”
Data centers are the backbone of the internet—often described as high-tech “warehouses” that store and process the vast amounts of data powering our digital world. Instead of housing physical goods, they contain thousands of servers that support nearly everything we do online.
They play a critical role in everyday life. Essential services like healthcare systems, emergency response, banking, and government operations all rely on data centers to securely store and transmit information.
Data centers are significant, long-term drivers of local revenue—often ranking among a community's largest taxpayers. Compared with other industrial projects like warehouses or factories, data centers tend to deliver strong tax revenue while causing relatively minimal disruption to day-to-day community life.
Loudoun County, Virginia has been able to reduce the real property tax rate for homeowners every year for the past decade thanks to data center revenue, while still funding significant capital improvements and budget increases. For every dollar of local public services they consume, data centers contribute about $26 in tax revenue back to the county.
In April 2026, driven by rising tax revenue from data centers, Louisa County’s Board of Supervisors approved a 15% reduction in personal property taxes. This move highlights how data center investments can bolster public services while simultaneously easing financial burdens for local households.
Data centers in Mecklenburg County now fund 24% of the county's operating budget. This tax revenue helps keep residential rates low, funds municipal services, and covers major capital projects, such as a new $154 million school, without burdening local homeowners.
Data centers create local jobs and economic impact.
For every direct job at a U.S. Google data center, about 9 other jobs are also created in the community.
Hundreds of local vendor jobs in maintenance, security, landscaping, HVAC repair, electrical work, and construction trades are supported during the build and after each data center is completed.
A typical Google data center location in the U.S. adds $688 million in state economic activity each year.
Google supports training programs for the electricians, technicians, and workers who will power the future.
Google's Skilled Trades and Readiness (STAR) program facilitates equitable entry into construction and the skilled trades by equipping local workers and students with skills needed for jobs now and in the future digital economy.
“With the pace and intense curriculum of the STAR (Skilled Trades and Readiness) Program, I felt informed enough to start my job with confidence when I got out into the field.” – Jemal Shabazz, Nebraska STAR Program Graduate in Fiber Optics
Google.org has provided a $10M grant to train 100,000 existing electricians and support the formation of 30,000 new apprenticeships across the country, over the next three years. The partnership is anticipated to spur a 70% increase in the electrician workforce pipeline by 2030.
What this looks like locally: While still in early stages, similar projects typically generate 1,000+ construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions with many paying over $100,000.
The project brings significant financial and community benefits, including:
Over $18 million from the land sale and an initial economic development grant, which has already funded new ambulances, body cameras for the Sheriff's office, and other public safety upgrades.
The project is expected to generate at least $10 million in annual local tax revenue for each of the three planned data center buildings.
The project will create a minimum of 150 permanent on-site jobs once operational, with an economic multiplier effect that can support hundreds of additional jobs in the region.
Google is partnering with Appalachian Voices to fund solar and battery storage installations in Duffield and Dungannon. These "community resilience hubs" will provide reliable power and safe gathering spaces during emergencies, strengthening the stability of the entire region.
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