Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Microsoft completes construction on first Racine County data center
Ricardo Torres
Data center is first of several planned
Microsoft Corp. has completed construction of its first data center in Mount Pleasant – with several more to come.
The company said the facility, which it calls Fairwater, is "fully operational."
"Wisconsin is now home to the world's most powerful supercomputer," Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a June 23 statement.
“This campus will help power the next generation of AI innovation globally and provide long-term economic opportunity locally through hundreds of highly skilled jobs and continued investment in the region," Smith said.
Microsoft has committed more than $7.3 billion to building multiple data centers in Mount Pleasant. The company has a second data center under construction to be completed in 2028.
The company has roughly 375 people working at the data center and plans to have roughly 800 workers on the campus once the second data center is completed.
Village President Dave DeGroot called the completion of the first data center a "historic milestone" for Mount Pleasant and Racine County.
"Microsoft's decision to invest here elevates our community into a destination for innovation and advancement," DeGroot said, in a statement.
"As this campus continues to grow, it will create lasting opportunities for residents, strengthen our regional economy and help position Wisconsin for long-term success," he said.
The data center puts Microsoft at the top of largest taxpayers in Mount Pleasant and Racine County. The company's facilities in Mount Pleasant are worth about $1.224 billion, according to assessment data, which means its annual tax bill is $19.75 million.
Microsoft has been approved to build up to 15 more data centers in Mount Pleasant during the next 10 years. Those centers are being built with union workers.
""I'm very proud of the work our members have done to build this facility," Michael Ervin, organizing director of Operating Engineers Local 139 said, in a statement. "Since day one, they have helped build it safely, professionally and with pride in their craft."
"This isn't an ordinary construction project," Ervin said. "Our members are getting the chance to work on some of the most advanced infrastructure, and those skills and experiences will stay with them throughout their careers.”
The Microsoft development is taking place within a tax incremental financing district. The district uses property tax revenue from the development to pay for roads, sewers, and other public infrastructure improvements.
Microsoft completes construction on first Mount Pleasant data center
Holly Gilvary
MOUNT PLEASANT — After two years, construction of Microsoft's first data center in Mount Pleasant is complete.
Microsoft said Tuesday that the facility is fully operational. The plan for the facility was first announced in May 2024.
Almost 10,000 construction crew members worked on the facility and there are currently almost 550 full-time employees on-site. Microsoft said the company and its contractors are actively hiring and expect this number will continue to grow.
Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said Wisconsin is now home to the "world's most powerful supercomputer."
"This campus will help power the next generation of AI innovation globally and provide long-term economic opportunity locally through hundreds of highly skilled jobs and continued investment in the region," Smith said in a news release.
Mount Pleasant Village President David DeGroot called the facility's completion "a historic milestone for Mount Pleasant and all of Racine County as we become home to one of the most advanced technology campuses in the world."
"Microsoft's decision to invest here elevates our community into a destination for innovation and advancement," DeGroot said in the release. "As this campus continues to grow, it will create lasting opportunities for residents, strengthen our regional economy and help position Wisconsin for long-term success."
Microsoft estimates the company will have spent $4.7 billion between 2024-28 locally on hyperscale construction in Wisconsin. It has directly purchased from 29 businesses across 11 Wisconsin counties, rippling across many more local companies through supplier networks, subcontracting, logistics and related services needs, according to Microsoft.
Direct purchases include construction suppliers in Racine County, contractors and steel fabricators in Outagamie and Marathon counties, electrical equipment manufacturers in Rock and Columbia counties, and machinery manufacturers in La Crosse County.
Construction of Microsoft's second facility in Mount Pleasant, which is immediately adjacent to the first, is ongoing. Current work includes foundation installation, steel erection and underground utility placement. This facility is scheduled to be completed in 2028.
When the second facility is fully operational, Microsoft expects the number of full-time employees in Mount Pleasant will grow to about 800.