Google slows data-center growth

Search-engine powerhouse reportedly will decline a $4.7 million grant for a new North Carolina facility.

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff December 10, 2008

According to MarketingPilgrim.com , search engine powerhouse Google is showing signs of increasing concern about worsening economic conditions. The company reportedly has told North Carolina officials it won’t be taking a $4.7 million grant as planned.

The grant was supposed to be an incentive for Google to create 210 jobs and spend $600 million over four years at its new data center in Lenoir, N.C. However, to date, Google has thus far only hired 50 employees and has all but stopped the expansion of this data center. While Google states it didn’t like all of the terms of the grant agreement it also cited “recent volatile economic conditions” in a letter to state officials.