Microsoft has decided to halt plans for constructing data centers at three sites in Licking County, Ohio. This decision was confirmed by a spokesperson from the corporation. The initial investment plan, announced by One Columbus in October 2024, involved a $1 billion commitment to build facilities in New Albany, Heath, and Hebron.
"After careful consideration, we will not be moving forward at this time with our plans to build data centers at the Licking County sites," the spokesperson said. "We will continue to evaluate these sites in line with our investment strategy. We sincerely appreciate the leadership and partnership of Ohio government officials and the support of Licking County residents."
The spokesperson further mentioned that Microsoft would ensure that two of the sites could be repurposed for farming. Additionally, Microsoft intends to adhere to development agreements aimed at funding roadway and utility improvements. The company also plans to continue investing in local organizations focused on digital skills development and community strengthening efforts.
According to a news release from One Columbus, Microsoft's initial phase was set to establish three data centers as part of its global cloud computing infrastructure network. The cancellation means Licking County will miss out on an estimated 400 annual construction jobs during the building phase of these campuses. Furthermore, potential employment opportunities for hundreds of full-time positions offering competitive wages and benefits have been lost. Local leaders such as New Albany Mayor Sloan Spalding and Hebron Mayor Valerie Mockus had previously expressed optimism about Microsoft's planned investment and its anticipated economic impact.
One Columbus serves as the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region, which has a population of approximately 2.3 million people.
In its 2024 Year in Review report, GROW Licking County highlighted Microsoft's announcement as indicative of growth within manufacturing and data center sectors. Other notable developments included CyrusOne's decision to locate a data center in New Albany with a $150 million project investment; Vantage Data Centers' groundbreaking on a facility also in New Albany with over $2 billion planned investment; Owens Corning's expansion of its research center in Granville Township; Cologix's $7 billion AI-ready data center campus project in Johnstown; and German window manufacturer Gelean's choice of Heath for its U.S. operations.
