Google’s Strategic Expansion: A Closer Look at the Morgan County Data Center Initiative

Google’s Major Investment in Indiana’s Digital Infrastructure

In a significant move to bolster its technological footprint, Google is advancing plans for a substantial data center campus spanning 390 acres in Morgan County, Indiana. This development, confirmed by the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation, represents a strategic expansion of the tech giant’s infrastructure capabilities in the American Midwest.

Google’s Major Investment in Indiana’s Digital Infrastructure
Comprehensive Campus Layout and Specifications
Strategic Importance and Local Impact
Google’s Broader Indiana Expansion Strategy
Indiana’s Growing Data Center Ecosystem
Economic and Community Benefits

Comprehensive Campus Layout and Specifications

The proposed campus, situated near Monrovia in Morgan Township, encompasses 18 parcels owned by 10 different entities between Keller Hill Road, North Antioch Road, Indiana 42, and West Union Church Road. Initial applications indicate the potential development of five buildings on the site, with four appearing to be large-scale data centers and a fifth, smaller structure located east of an electrical transmission line.

Broderick Green, Google’s data center public affairs manager, emphasized the company’s forward-looking approach: “We are always planning for future capacity needs, which includes evaluating options to expand our data center presence in markets across the US. In Indiana, we can confirm we are exploring a potential development in Morgan County, Indiana. We appreciate the collaboration with both Morgan County and state leadership as we evaluate the opportunity together.”

Strategic Importance and Local Impact

The project received rezoning approval in late September, paving the way for what local officials describe as a transformative economic opportunity. Mike Dellinger of the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “A project of this magnitude presents the opportunity to bring jobs and needed investment for our schools and critical county services without raising taxes on our residents. We are committed to working hand-in-hand with Google to support a clean, modern industry that will help drive our future economy.”

Google’s Broader Indiana Expansion Strategy

This Morgan County initiative forms part of Google’s comprehensive investment strategy in Indiana. The company is concurrently developing a massive campus in Fort Wayne, having purchased 900 acres and committed approximately $2 billion to that project in 2024, with expansions planned through September 2025.

Interestingly, Google had previously explored development opportunities in Franklin Township near Indianapolis but withdrew the application in September due to local response considerations. This highlights the company’s strategic approach to site selection, balancing technical requirements with community relations.

Indiana’s Growing Data Center Ecosystem

Morgan County’s location southwest of Indianapolis positions it within Indiana’s primary data center market, which also includes established hubs in South Bend and Fort Wayne. This expansion reflects the state’s increasing importance in the national digital infrastructure landscape, offering strategic advantages for hyperscale operators seeking to distribute computational resources across multiple geographic locations.

The development aligns with growing demand for cloud services and digital transformation initiatives across industries, requiring robust, distributed data center capacity to support latency-sensitive applications and redundant infrastructure.

Economic and Community Benefits

Beyond the immediate construction and operational employment opportunities, the project promises substantial long-term benefits for Morgan County:, as comprehensive coverage

Job Creation: Both temporary construction positions and permanent technical roles
Tax Revenue: Significant contributions to local schools and public services without residential tax increases
Infrastructure Development: Potential upgrades to local power, water, and transportation systems
Technology Ecosystem: Attraction of complementary businesses and skilled professionals to the region

As data continues to drive economic activity across sectors, investments like Google’s Morgan County campus represent critical infrastructure that supports both local communities and the broader digital economy. The project demonstrates how strategic partnerships between technology companies and local governments can create mutually beneficial outcomes while advancing national technological capabilities.