Microsoft data center could employ more than 200 after multiyear construction in Cherry Valley

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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CHERRY VALLEY — Microsoft is developing plans to build a data center that would one day employ more than 200 people near the corner of U.S. Route 20 and Wheeler Road.

The multiyear project would expand across 309 acres of what is now cornfields with six one-story buildings to house computer servers that support the technology giant’s cloud online infrastructure.

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The project also promises to provide a jolt to the local economy, both through the permanent technology jobs in the facility and the hundreds of jobs created during the course of construction. Approximately 350 construction jobs are created for each of the six buildings.

“It creates diversity in the types of jobs that we have in our community, and it spurs development in other areas,” said Pamela Lopez-Fettes, executive director of Growth Dimensions, the Boone County economic development agency that has worked with Microsoft on its plans to locate here. “When you see these types of opportunities, it brings other opportunities here: restaurants, storefronts, offices.”

Microsoft rolled out its proposal on Monday during an open house at the Tebala Event Center. Its proposal goes to the village’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday for the first step in the process to receive a special-use permit and annexation agreement to build in Cherry Valley.

Microsoft warned at the open house that the process is a marathon that will take multiple years.

If the project earns village approval, Microsoft would move forward with buying the land this summer before starting the prep work to prepare the land for construction. The first of the six buildings isn’t expected to be operational until 2028. Subsequent building timing isn’t confirmed.

Lopez-Fettes and state Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, said access to reliable, affordable energy — including a nearby electric substation — made the site attractive to Microsoft. The company also has the ability to draw from a great regional workforce, Syverson said.

“For the Cherry Valley area, just the name Microsoft is kind of like what Hard Rock will do for Rockford,” Syverson said. “Once you start bringing a big name out there it attracts others, plus you have to bring all the infrastructure out to them. Once it’s there it’s easier to do other hookups.”

Expansion of infrastructure into the area such as water and sewer services will help prime the area for more development in the future, Lopez-Fettes said.

Syverson said Microsoft will generate significant property taxes for the county, schools, fire department and other taxing bodies because data centers property values are based not just on the building but the servers as well.

Village Administrator Jim Claeyssen said the village wants to see Microsoft to protect the closest neighborhood from the sights and sounds of the new development.

To do so, all traffic feeding into the site is planned to come off Wheeler Road at the east end of the project away from the closest residences in the East Valley neighborhood.

“They’re a pretty quiet neighbor,” he said. “The most noise they will make is building it.”

Microsoft will also keep roughly 2,000 feet of land open for buffering and berms.

Claeyssen said the data center will use the amount of water similar to about 30 homes a day.

“They’re going to be a good neighbor for us,” Claeyssen said. “It is probably the most positive job growth for high-tech jobs in our area in a long time.”

Anyone who missed the open house can see the slides Microsoft presented at Village Hall, 806 E. State St., during normal business hours.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas