Apple said it will make an investment of $1.3 billion to build a 400,000-square-foot data center in Waukee, Iowa.
The strategy of Apple is to better serve North American users of iMessage, Siri, the App Store and other Apple services. The new Apple data center facility will run entirely on renewable energy from day one.
Apple said the data center project will create over 550 construction and operations jobs in the Des Moines area. The technology company is contributing up to $100 million to a newly created Public Improvement Fund dedicated to community development and infrastructure around Waukee.
“Apple is responsible for 2 million jobs in all 50 states and we’re proud today’s investment will add to the more than 10,000 jobs we already support across Iowa, providing even more economic opportunity for the community,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
The Public Improvement Fund, to be established and managed by the City of Waukee, will support the development of community projects like parks, libraries and recreational spaces, as well as infrastructure needs.
Apple will be working with local partners to invest in renewable energy projects from wind and other sources to power the data center. Apple has pledged to power all of its global operations with 100 percent renewable energy, and has already reached that goal in the US and 23 other countries.
Apple will start the construction on the data center early next year and Apple plans to bring it online in 2020.
Apple said it is responsible for 2 million jobs in the United States. Last year, Apple spent over $50 billion with more than 9,000 US suppliers and manufacturers. Since the launch of the App Store in 2008, US developers have earned over $16 billion in App Store sales worldwide.
