CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) Google officially opened its newest data center in Montgomery County with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday.
Governor Bill Lee, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Bob Rolfe, Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durett, Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts, TVA CEO Jeffrey Lyash, Austin Peay State University President Dr. Alisa White joined Google executives to open the new $600 million facility.
“We welcome Google to Clarksville and are thrilled with the growing technology sector right here in Tennessee,” said Governor Bill Lee. “Our highly skilled workforce and Google’s reputation for innovation will be transformational for this area and beyond.”
In February of 2018, Google CEO Sundar Pichai visited Clarksville to break ground on the data center in Montgomery County. Montgomery County’s data center will employ a number of employees in a variety of fields including computer technicians, engineers, and maintenance, etc. The Clarksville data center power usage is matched with 100% renewable energy as part of a deal with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to power the Clarksville center.
“While this project is a part of a larger nationwide network of data centers, Google has worked hard to make a strong local impact. We are grateful to Clarksville and Montgomery County for welcoming us into this great community, and that is why we have made a concentrated effort to give back,” said Enoch Moeller, Google Data Center Site Lead. “We are thankful for the strong partners we have met throughout the process including, the State of Tennessee, both local governments, the Montgomery County school system, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Austin Peay State University, and many more.”
Since announcing its investment in Montgomery County, Google has awarded more than $450K to local schools and nonprofits. Google has also taken on a number of environmental initiatives, including with Austin Peay State University on the Southeastern Grasslands Initiative.
“Montgomery County is thrilled to be Google’s home in Tennessee,” said Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett. “Whether it has been sponsoring community events, awarding grants to local nonprofits, or investing in STEM programs in local schools, Google has quickly become a staple in our community. The County looks forward to building on top of our already strong partnership with Google.”
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts welcomed Google to the community as well. “Google and the rest of the nation has discovered what all of us who call Clarksville home know already. That is, we are the best place in the world to live. Thank you for your investment in our community, and may God continue to bless our community and her people,” said Pitts
The Clarksville Data Center is Google’s first facility in the state. Last August, Grow with Google — the company’s economic opportunity initiative — visited Clarksville to host a full day of digital skills workshops for small businesses and learners in the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library.
