Microsoft is working on building its first data center in Wisconsin. This is a large-scale project on once fertile farmland in Racine County that will create good-paying jobs.
You’ve probably heard about this project in the news. But who will benefit from this multi-billion dollar development and why is it so important to the region’s digital economy?
Every day, Takis Kinis teaches students interested in the computer technology industry and is excited about their future.
“Everything is changing, and the world is changing very quickly,” said Kinis, an IT instructor at Gateway Technical College’s Racine campus.
He knows the rapidly changing world is creating opportunities for students seeking employment at Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar development in Mount Pleasant.
“I think they’re looking to hire 400 IT people in the new data center, at least in the first phase. That’s a very high number of employees.”
It’s already a massive job with cranes and earthmoving trucks. He has 200 employees on site and will add up to 1,000 jobs at the peak of construction on Microsoft’s new data center campus.
Jim Paetsch walked TMJ4’s Charles Benson through the project from behind a fence in a busy construction area.
He is executive vice president and executive director of the Milwaukee 7.
Microsoft has more than 300 data centers in 34 countries, but this is the tech giant’s first data center in Wisconsin.
Benson: “What does it mean that this area is located in that lane?”
Paetsch: “I think this is important. I think having Microsoft here really defines the direction and trajectory of this region. It just further helps them become part of the economy” century. “
The blockbuster project is a far cry from the scaled-back Foxconn development, which never lived up to its original $10 billion expectations.
But the initial infrastructure investment in the site put Mount Pleasant in a position to acquire Microsoft.
The company hopes to have its first data center completed by 2025, and Microsoft says a typical data center campus employs an average of 300 to 400 people.
Mr. Paetsch is affiliated with M-7, an organization that works with business and community leaders to bring economic opportunities to regions like Microsoft.
Well-known companies also help recruit and retain local tech and university graduates.
“We are fortunate in this region because we have a number of large global companies that call this region home,” Mr. Petsch said. “Adding Microsoft to that roster gives us more leverage as we think about how to keep our kids here.”
The company is already planning to launch a data center academy in partnership with Gateway Technical College.
Already offering one- and two-year degrees in cybersecurity, computer support, AI, and data analytics, Kinis believes the door of opportunity is wide open.
“You might think we’re too late to get into the IT game now, but that’s not the case,” Kinis says. We are still at the beginning of the whole process. ”
Gateway said 2,200 students earned associate or technical degrees in the past year.
It costs approximately $10,000 in total tuition and fees to earn an IT associate’s degree. Graduates earn an annual salary of $50,000, while jobs in data analysis and cybersecurity can bring them closer to $90,000.
Please take a look when you have time. Search for “TMJ4” on your device and he’ll be streaming your local news and weather forecasts 24/7.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip
